7 Ways to Talk to Teenagers About Mental Health

As it’s revealed one in ten young people will experience mental health problems before they turn 16, experts say it’s vital for mum and dad to reach out to their youngsters

One in ten young people experiences a mental health problem before they turn 16.

Jo Loughran, director of the charity Time To Change, shares her top tips on how parents can talk to teenagers about the tricky issue.

“You don’t have to be an expert. Just showing you’re in their corner and open to the topic can make a really big difference.”

SEND A WHATSAPP

Jo says: “Nowadays you don’t always have to talk about mental health face-to-face.

“Teenagers might appreciate a text, an email or a WhatsApp.

Engaging with our kids with over social media, email or WhatsApp could be a great way to start a conversation about mental health
“I suffered a bereavement recently and, while I didn’t feel ready to talk about it, I really appreciated hearing the ping of the phone with people messaging to make sure I was OK.

“The medium doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you reach out and ask, ‘Are you OK?’”

– Lynsey Hope

Read More: 7 Ways to Talk to Teenagers About Mental Health

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