How can you improve your teen’s mental health?

Mental health issues are prevalent and common in teenagers. Here’s what you can do to boost your teen’s mental well-being. 

Adolescence is one of the most crucial phases in life. Tumultuous transitions accompany adolescence as children undergo massive physical, emotional, hormonal, and sexual changes. 

The problems and pressures a teenager encounters can often feel too overwhelming for them. These problems can lead to various mental health disorders, all of which are matters of concern and some life-threatening. 

Thanks to the internet, most teenagers now know about mental health but are not told about practising mental well-being in their daily lives. Mental wellness is paramount in teens, and parents and teachers should actively promote mental wellness in every teenager. 

Mental well-being includes daily practices such as proper sleep, healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and talking about your feelings to an adult. It is the ability to handle stress, adapt to changes, and bounce back from the unprecedented events of life. 

Teenagers will be able to cope with unpleasant feelings and uncertainties of life only if they are taught to address their mental health issues. Proper mental wellness coaching by parents and teachers can also reduce the risk of teenagers’ exposure to substance abuse. 

How to take care of your teen’s mental well-being?

In an interview, Milin Sangha Gujral, Clinical Psychologist and founder of Happy Strokes, shared how an adult can improve a child’s mental health. 

• Talk to your child regularly and encourage them to share their feelings. 
• Spend quality time with your teenager.
• Indulge in productive yet simple activities, like gardening, painting, or making a meal. 
• Remind your teenager of your presence. Tell them you value their opinions and feelings and encourage them to talk about things that matter to them. 
• Acknowledge your child’s good work, even if it is something small like cleaning their room. This promotes good behavior. 
• A child learns independence in their teenage years. Make sure to give them ample space and time to be on their own. Your overbearing presence could make your child more aloof from you. 
• We all feel a rush of emotions at times. If you are too angry or hassled about something your child has done, try to calm down first and talk to your child later. 
• Try to be transparent and honest with your child. Share your feelings with them, so they understand that they are not alone in experiencing them. This makes them think that their feelings are valid. 
• Children acquire most of their behaviours from their parents. So model the behaviour you want them to learn. 
• Promote the practice of self-care. At times of stress, a child should be able to prioritize their well-being over anything else. 
• Social media has been an essential tool in everyone’s life. Make sure your teenager uses it in moderation. Always keep a watch on the content your child is viewing to ensure it does not impact their mental health. 
• Encourage them to reduce screen time and not use electronic devices before sleep.
• Practice mindfulness with your teen. Mindfulness grounds your focus and helps you deal with stress effectively. 
• Help your teen inculcate a habit of journaling their thoughts and feelings. It will help them to understand their thoughts well. Journaling daily has been proven effective in dealing with overwhelming emotions. 

Mental health ‘red flags’ to be alert for

We have noted some symptoms which indicate your child is suffering from a mental health issue. If you see one or more of these signs in your teenager, maybe it’s time to consult a therapist or psychiatrist. 

• Low self-esteem.
• Loss of interest in favourite pastimes. 
• Excessive sleeping or difficulty sleeping could indicate depression, insomnia, or substance abuse. 
• An unexpected and dramatic decline in academic performance. 
• Nausea, rapid weight loss, and lack of appetite. These could indicate an eating disorder. 
• Personality shifts, like excessive anger or aggressiveness, regular mood swings, and unwillingness to communicate.