Supporting Teens

Supporting Teens

Dear Tacit,

How can we help our teens if they are showing signs of possible mental health issues?

Signed: Supporting Teens,

Dear Supporting Teens,

Supporting teens with mental health issues requires a multifaceted approach that includes education, communication, professional support, and community involvement.  It takes a team!  Here are some key strategies:

1. Open Communication: create a safe space for your teens so they can share their feelings without judgement.  Learn how to actively listen (not take over the conversation with advice or your own stories).  Know how to validate.  And don’t rush to “solutions”.  Get comfortable staying in the feelings.

2. Education and Awareness: talk to teens about mental wellness.  Help them understand that there is support available – that many of their struggles are a healthy part of their development – and that just because they are struggling now does not mean they will have the issues all their life.  Know how to recognize the signs of mental health issues yourself (things like changes in behavior, mood swings, withdrawal, and academic struggles).  And talk about what you are seeing with your teen.

3. Peer Support: know your teen’s friends – ensure they are healthy and positive connections. And encourage your teen to interact with their peers regularly, to lessen the isolation and withdrawal that can sometimes develop during these years.

4. Healthy Lifestyle: role model and encourage your teen to be active every day – to develop healthy sleep routines – and to eat and drink enough water for their physical wellbeing. These foundations are KEY essentials for a teen to be able to handle the ups and downs that life throws at them.  And if mom/dad aren’t doing these things, how can we expect the teen to do them?

5. Technology and Social Media: safeguard your teen against the negative impact of too much social media/screen time.  Limit usage so a healthy balance of other activities (including time to be bored/self reflect) can also occur regularly in your teen’s day.

6. Family Involvement: stay connected to your teen, even when they try to push you away.  Make time for fun activities together (something your teen will enjoy), so natural conversation opportunities also get created.  But don’t stop there – make time for intentional and purposeful conversations too.  Check-in regularly with your teen to see how they are doing – even when they seem “fine” or “good” (we ban these words from our home – so our teens have to dig a bit deeper and figure out how they are really feeling!).

7. Network: recognize that you cannot be/provide everything to your teen.  Help facilitate connections between your teen and their teachers, coaches, best friends’ parents, etc.  And allow these responsible, trusted adults to help support your teen in whatever ways they need.

8. Boredom: help your teen understand the power of being bored.  Encourage them to use this time to allow their minds to wander aimlessly – to build a connection and awareness of themselves – to think about whatever needs to be processed (past emotions, future dreams and goals, etc).  Always rushing to fill these moments with distractions does not allow for introspection and self-awareness (which lowers self esteem).

9. Empowerment and Resilience Building: help your teen find activities that they are passionate about, which can build self-esteem and provide a sense of purpose.  Encourage part-time jobs or volunteering opportunities.  Teach coping mechanisms and resilience skills, so teens can better handle stress and setbacks. Don’t rush to rescue (or “fix it” for) your teen – trust that they can work through challenges with your encouragement/on their own.

10. Professional Support: encourage counselling as a normal and healthy way to manage mental health. Help your teen know where to turn to for support – school counsellors, community youth workers, church supports, professional therapists, etc.  Allow them the chance to get familiar with what therapy is all about when an issue is relatively minor, so they already feel comfortable with the process when things are more intense.

11. Crisis Intervention: be aware of the warning signs that a teen might be in crisis (for example, eating/feeding issues, self-harm or suicide).  Ensure that you and your teen knows where to go for immediate help, such as crisis hotlines, emergency services, or local mental health therapists.

Supporting teens with mental health issues requires a collaborative effort among parents, family/friends, neighbours, schools, healthcare providers, and the teens themselves. As the saying goes, “It takes a community to raise a child” – especially if we want our child to be healthy and happy!

Take care!

Want to learn more about the common mental health challenges that our tweens/teens face – and how to help them build the resiliency they need to thrive?  Join David Quia (a high school student from Leduc) as he coordinates the Open Minds, Open Pages Event – happening at the Leduc Public Library – on August 29^th, September 5^th and September 12^th.   These Workshops are all FREE – and they will be happening in-person.  Everyone is welcome to attend (not just Leduc residents).

The RiseUp Society will be presenting Navigating Teen Mental Wellness (practical strategies for teens, combating stigma, using social media mindfully and prioritizing self-care – Aug 29^th).  Tacit Knowledge will be presenting Foundations To Stay In Balance (4 key aspects of daily life that create a foundation for healthy mental wellness overall; how the stress hormone cortisol can easily get overproduced, and the signs to watch for; 4 ways to dump excess cortisol when tough times are happening in life; and ways to boost happy hormones, to help prevent excess cortisol from developing and to enhance mental wellness – on Sept 5^th).  And the BCG Leduc Youth Coordinator and FCSS Youth Outreach Worker will be presenting Building Bridges (nurturing healthy relationships for mental well-being – on Sept 12^th).

For more information about or to register for these events, please contact the Leduc Public Library.

Do you have a question you would like us to address? Please feel free to reach out to us at counsellors@tacitknows.com. Your answer will be provided confidentially. 

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