Caring for your Teen's Mental Health

Prioritising a child’s mental health is as important as nurturing their academic and character growth. Similar to how we instill healthy physical habits such as brushing our teeth, parents can guide their children towards positive mental health practices and teach tools to manage their thoughts and emotions effectively.

By understanding the importance of mental wellness and providing the necessary guidance, parents can help their teens navigate the challenges of adolescence and develop good habits and routines early on to manage their mental health.

TOUCH Mental Wellness shares some tips that parents may employ to care for their teen’s mental health.

Be aware of and regulate your emotions first: Just as airlines would remind passengers to secure their own oxygen masks before assisting others, it’s crucial that parents prioritise their mental health, in order to have the capacity and emotional stability to support and guide their children. Moreover, parents serve as powerful role models, shaping their children's attitudes, values, and how they regulate their own emotions. As parents, your self-care practices and coping strategies for addressing emotional needs can be invaluable lessons for your child to learn from.

Invite your child to express and share their thoughts and feelings: Remember, small steps can make big differences. Set aside regular time to have open, honest conversations with your teen about their day, experiences and feelings. Intentionally resist the urge to interrupt them to offer solutions for their problems, as this may cause them to feel unheard and discourage them from connecting with you further. Instead, practise active listening, focusing on understanding their perspectives and validating their emotions. Children find comfort in knowing that their parents accept or are open to their vulnerabilities too. When your teen becomes overwhelmed, gently guide them through their feelings, helping them make sense of their experiences and cope with their emotions.

Encourage physical self-care: Share with your teen the positive connection between physical health and mental well-being. Research has shown that engaging in regular exercise can boost mental alertness, mood and energy levels by releasing endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals [1]. To promote a healthier and active lifestyle for the entire family, consider incorporating activities that promote adequate sleep, proper nutrition, regular exercise and balanced screen time. For a start, you can plan a family hiking trip to encourage a fun and active experience with your children.

Encourage help-seeking as early as possible: Sometimes, we can be overwhelmed by stressors in life and need a little extra support from family, friends and mental health professionals. Let your teen know that asking for help is a sign of strength and not weakness. Gently encourage them to open up about their feelings and seek support when you notice that they are going through a rough patch. TOUCH Mental Wellness offers support for those who are distressed or having negative thoughts. You may call the TOUCHline at 1800 377 2252 (Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm) to speak with a counsellor. 

Parents, you play a vital role in shaping and nurturing your teen’s mental health and well-being. By offering your care, guidance and support, you can assure your child and equip them with practical tools to manage their mental health struggles and develop good wellness habits from a young age.

TOUCH Mental Wellness (TMW) runs personalised therapy and counselling programmes to empower individuals to rise above their circumstances. An advocate of mental wellness, TMW has been organising mental wellness awareness mass runs, talks and workshops since 2015. It works closely with corporations to conduct mental wellness talks with an aim of equipping employees with handles to cope with stress and help them build resilience. It also specialises in mental wellness awareness and educational programmes for schools.

1. Sources “Physical health and mental health” Mental Health Foundation, https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/physical-health-and-mental-health