Supporting Your Teen’s Mental Wellbeing

Here are four tips on how to help your teen to navigate the times when their confidence, emotions or ambitions can be challenging for them.

Being in your teens is a difficult thing. Young people must deal with school pressures, navigating friendships, the struggle for independence and discovering who they are as a person, as well as lots of tricky hormones! It’s a time of great change and uncertainty which can be very overwhelming which is why it’s hugely important to support your teenager’s mental wellbeing.

MAKE TIME TO TALK

It might seem like the last thing your teen wants but it is incredibly important to keep the channels of communication between you and your child open through this challenging time in their lives. Have a regular time to chat and spend it mostly listening instead of talking. Never dismiss your teenager’s issues or feelings and always make it clear that they • Try to replace the word “but” with “and” to diffuse the argument into a discussion • Take a time-out if needed - never discuss issues while angry • Be transparent - honesty will show your teen that you are engaging with them in a more adult way and they will feel more seen, better respected and more likely to cooperate • Reflect on conflict afterwards - think about better ways to resolve what happened and talk about your thoughts with your child so they can be involved in processing these ideas

can tell you anything during these chats and you will always listen without judgement.

DIFFUSE CONFLICT TOGETHER

Conflict is inevitable during teenage years as this is a time when young people form their own version of themselves and establish an identity outside of their parents. However, managing conflict healthily can make a big difference. During moments of tension and disagreement, try to keep the following ideas in mind: • Stay calm • Listen to your teen’s point of view - use phrases like ‘I hear you, I hear what you’re saying and I feel…’ to acknowledge that you are taking on board what they’re telling you

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

There is an abundance of benefits to praising your teenager. Receiving positive comments from a parent does wonders for their self-image, confidence and sense of self-esteem - all very big emotional pieces of their character that influence their experience of teenagehood. Remember to praise effort, not results. Always put the focus on their efforts and how hard they are trying as it will build up their self-belief rather than accidentally mounting the pressure they feel to suceed.

BREAK DOWN GOALS

Once your teen has identified a goal that they would like to aim for, help them by breaking it down together into manageable, achievable steps. Goals can be anything from redecorating their bedroom to running a race. It doesn’t matter! Just make sure to encourage them through each step and plan a celebration when they reach their goal. Use these suggestions to support their mental wellbeing by telling them and showing them that they have your kindness, respect and unconditional support, regardless of what else is going on.

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