A Table Talk With Your Child on Mental Health

While, you, as a parent, have a huge impact on your child's mental health: for example, everything you speak and do, as well as the atmosphere you create at home, have a massive effect on your child's mental health. You may also find out by the indications of psychiatric disorder?and how to get help.

For your child to understand, you can use language and explanations that are appropriate for your child's age and maturity level. Look for books and handouts that are geared for children. Movies occasionally provide instances that can be used to aid children's comprehension.

So that our readers may know how to go about such sensitive matters, we dedicate this article to educating our younglings, and their parents on key concepts about mental health.

Exposing Children to Basic Concepts Like Stress/Social Anxiety/Bullying

Talking with your child about how they feel when they're overwhelmed and what makes them worry can help them better comprehend how they're feeling. They can focus on ways to lessen stress by recognizing their own emotions, behaviours, and physical reactions to it.

You can begin by assuring your youngster understanding stress is a natural part of life. Stress is a natural aspect of everyone's life, and it triggers a typical "fight-flight-freeze" reaction in the body when we are under stress.

Teaching your child about how anxiety affects their thinking and behavior is a valuable lesson on how to deal with bad emotions. Teach your child to identify and change harmful thoughts with positive ones.

Teaching your kid about harassment is not normal because if it continues, it may have serious implications at the house, in education, and in society. Teach your child that making fun of others because of their ethnicity, culture, beauty, unique needs, sexuality, or economic status is unacceptable.

Deciding A Confidante

It's always wonderful to have a few solid trusted pals on your side, but determining one's grade of honesty may be tricky at times. Here are some signs that someone is trustworthy.

1. They’re consistent across the board – Do you feel that this person remains true to themselves their character stays true with different people and one in different situations and circumstances. They don’t put up a mask nor do they feel pressured to change their stance or personality just to suit a different crowd.

2. They care about you – Do they seem naturally caring and respectful of you? When someone is trustworthy they don’t want to use you or take advantage of you. They're considerate of you since they accept your limits and also don't try to take up your lifestyle.

3. They always tell the truth – When someone is honest with you they’re comfortable enough to tell you how they truly feel they have your best interest in mind when they tell you the truth.

Open Conversations

Parent’s often struggle with knowing how to talk about mental and behavioural health issues with their children regardless of their age. Talking about your feelings and emotions becomes easier with practice, just like anything else in life.

Consider "talking about mental health" to be a constructive rather than defensive action. Make an attempt to complete daily routine activities. This initiative begins with you. Be transparent and upfront of your own sentiments with your children.

If you're sad or furious, talk to your child about what's making you feel that way. Children will be taught?that expressing unpleasant emotions in this way is appropriate. If you bottle up all of your emotions, your child will do the same. This isn't good for either of you.

At least one question regarding your children's moods, emotions, relationships, and other aspects that affect their mental health should be asked every day. Don't make them inform you; simply offer them the opportunity to do so. Also, pay attention to any unexpected shifts in their tone or volume.

Channeling Negative Energy

Understand what mental health is and break free from societal prohibitions. Understand that excellent mental health is a mental state of well-being in which you are emotionally fulfilled.

Exercise

Exercise is a natural anti-anxiety drug that is efficacious. Through the release of adrenaline, it reduces pressure and anxiety, increases physiological vitality, and enhances overall well-being. In addition to producing endorphins in the brain, physical activity helps to relax muscles and discharge stress in the body.

Meditation

Greater focus and concentration, enhanced self-awareness and self-esteem, less stress and anxiety, and the development of kindness are just a few of the mental health benefits of meditation. What we eat has an impact not just on our physical health but also on our mental health and well-being.

Diet

Moreover, a well-balanced, nutritious diet can help us think more clearly and feel more alert. It can also improve attention and mental concentration. If you have negative thoughts, don't blame or criticize yourself.

Choosing Friends Wisely

It's essential that our children must have accepting, and kind friends. Teach your children what it is to be a good friend so that they may be a good friends to others and find friends who appreciate and care about them.

Someone who continuously puts you down and speaks negatively about you, or who acts in a way that intimidates or manipulates you, is not a good friend. Teach your child to not just stand up to bullies, but also to set boundaries and reject demeaning people from their social circle.

The Role of Social Influence

It's never too early to begin educating your children on how to make wise friendship choices. Your child will be able to distinguish between a harmful and a beneficial friendship with other children as they get older. Not only will your children learn how to choose excellent connections, but they will also learn what it means to be a good friend.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, children's psychological health is a crucial element of their growth. It aids in the development of positive social, emotional, behavioural, intellectual, and communication abilities in children.

Gatherings around the table on your child’s mental health can help to relieve tension and anxiety while also promoting unity. The way kids approach towards themselves, and the world around them is referred to as mental health. It has an impact on how children handle life's obstacles and stresses.

Edited by Shaikh Mujtaba Ali (MBA)