How can Parents Support in Maintaining Teen Mental Health

 

Parents and care givers have a very crucial role in the development of a child. Both physical and psychological growth of a child are dependent on how they have been grown up. When it comes down to mental health of an adolescent, the type of parenting style plays
a huge role on how they might shape up in the future. The future individuals thought process is largely dependent on the experiences they have had in the past, especially during the time period of their teenage years.

Adolescent age group is a very tender period, a lot of things for the future are riding during this period. Having a happy and a positive time during this age group could lead development of individual who are both physically and mentally strong. Going through a harsh time or difficult and not getting correct guidance could lead to development of deviant personality.

Mental challenges faced by the Adolescents in during this age group:

• Stress due to change in academic expectations.
• Development of inferiority complex.
• Not being able to understand physical changes happening to them.
• Getting romantically involved.
• Having unexpected changes in life.
• Stress for career related issues.

These are just the tip of what an adolescent goes through in this period. The simplicity of childhood changes into a complex life of transitioning into adulthood. If these complexities are not properly addressed by their parents or care givers, they might develop into negative personality, which will not only hurt themselves but also people around them.

At Bright Side of Life, we understand that it is necessary for the parents to understand and include in their daily routine the ways in which their off springs could grow into beautiful human beings, both physically and psychologically. Below mentioned are few points that we try to use in our sessions as well that parents could inculcate in themselves and their children to have a smoother and successful transition into adulthood:

• Having open communication. Generally, teenagers are very doubtful of their own thoughts, it is possible that they might not express their feelings in one go, parents need to show to them that, they can communicate with their parents without any hesitation.
• Be an active listener. Carefully listen what your teen is trying to communicate to you. There is always subtle hint given by teenagers which depicts in what direction their thought process is moving.
• Start to recognize the warning signs to change in psychological health of your adolescent. There could changes in the way they think, changes in their dietary habits, changes in their way of communication and even changes in their physical appearance. If you start to notice that these are going in the negative direction, then it high time you start communicating with them or consult a mental health expert.
• Try to limit social media usage. Social media is full of people who are living a fake life and there is a high probability that teenagers might get influenced by their way of living and start to regret the way their life is.
• Try not to be judgmental about own kids. Teenagers are influenced if they are being judged by own parents, they might go into their shells and may not express their true emotions to you.
• Show children that you also make mistakes, and it is acceptable and totally to make a mistake. A human learns and gains experience by making mistakes.
• Teach them how to develop skills that will help them to overcome any problem in their life. Teach them to be resilient.
• Try to be more patient with teenagers, they are in their learning phase of their lives and each individual learns at their own pace. Just be patient and give them time to comprehend the situation.
• Include a mental health practitioner to have a better relationship with your adolescent. They could help to ease out the differences and bridge the gap between parents and their adolescent. 

These are just common ways that a parent could have a good development of mental health of their teenager. But one could also find a new and more effect way which is more suitable according to their family pattern. We at Bright Side of Life, have a panel of psychologist who are working dedicatedly with adolescents and their parents, to help them understand their teen in a much better way.