Talking with your parents or caregivers about mental health
Talking with your parents or caregivers about mental health can sometimes be challenging. While your parents or caregivers want what is best for you, their own experiences, perspectives, and fears may show up when discussing mental health.
Talking about mental health regularly at home can be good for your entire family. For example, sharing your knowledge about what you have learned about mental health at school can help your parents or caregivers learn more about how best to support you.
5 tips for talking to your parents or caregivers about mental health
Have conversations when your parents or caregivers can give you their full attention.
Choose a quiet time when you know you won’t be interrupted, and when everyone is feeling relaxed. Begin by telling them how much you appreciate their care for you and all that they have done to ensure that you have a good life, or all they are doing to support you. Let them know that you have learned that this support from family makes a strong positive difference to mental health for young people.
Consider sharing what you’ve learned about mental health at school and from other good sources.
Good mental health, like good physical health, is something we all want for ourselves and those we care about. Sometimes problems with our mental health come up without an obvious stressor, often related to biological or brain-related factors.
Describe your understanding of mental health and mental illness for your parents or caregivers. Give examples of things that might impact mental health, such as making new friends or moving to a new country, community, or school.
Share that it’s not a weakness to talk about mental health. In fact, it’s a strength.
Talking about mental health can still be stigmatized at times. This is unfortunate because it’s a strength to be able to recognize early when we’re not doing well, and to seek support.
Let your parents or caregivers know that talking with them about what’s happening in your life is a good thing and can help you to keep mental health and face challenges when they arise. This helps to create a healthy dialogue, and opens space to share when you notice signs of a mental health problem arising or worsening.
When you feel comfortable, help your parents or caregivers understand how you are feeling with your mental health.
When you’ve been getting good sleep, relaxing with friends, and using strategies that work for you to manage stress, tell them about it! That makes it easier to also talk about the times that aren’t going so well. For example, if you’re feeling anxious, you can also talk to them about what’s causing the anxiety. This can help them make connections between stressors and mental health.
Share what helps you feel mentally healthy, and how your parents or caregivers can support you to maintain good mental health.
Let them know what kind of support is helpful (and unhelpful) when you’re going through challenges. This can help your parents or caregivers feel more comfortable and confident in supporting you and can prevent them from offering support that feels unhelpful.
Keep in mind
- Your actions can help challenge and change the stereotypes or misconceptions your parents or caregivers may have about mental health.
- These conversations can be difficult. Be gentle with yourself, and reach out for help from others, like friends, teachers, family, Elders, community members, and helplines, to support you if you need it. If you don’t feel safe to bring something up with your parents or caregivers, then don’t. Find another trusted adult or helpline who can support you.
- You can be the change; you can make the difference. After all, your mental health matters! To read more from a fellow student on the importance of speaking openly about mental health, check out Mental health is for everyone.
Remember, caring for your mental health is just as important as addressing your physical health. When you’re open to sharing and starting these conversations, you can break down stigma and build understanding at home around the importance of seeking support when you need it. Consider sharing the By Your Side learning hub link with your parents or caregivers to support them in supporting you.