Supporting a child with their mental health

Communication

It can be very hard to know that your child is suffering so it is important to try to provide the best support you can.

Communication is one of the most effective ways to support your child. Your child may not feel comfortable discussing their feelings with you. This isn’t a reflection on yourself, it is a sensitive topic to discuss so it may be hard for some to talk to their parents about it. If this is the case then try to identify someone who your child is comfortable talking with. This may be a counsellor, teacher, friend or helpline. Giving your child an outlet to express how they’re feeling is likely to get a weight off their chest and will mean someone else is able to keep track of their mental health and so may be able to identify if their health is getting worse. If this is the case then it will allow that person to get them more immediate help if this becomes necessary.

• Be vigilant – If you notice changes in their behaviour and you are concerned then seek professional help.
• Be patient – If your child seems angry and aggressive then try to respond in a calm manner.
• Be understanding – Your child will have good days but that doesn’t mean the mental illness has gone.

What you can do

What’s best for your child will largely depend on the mental illness and your child, so trusting your instincts is often the best approach.

• Find time to spend with your child doing something fun and relaxing.
• Work on undoing any bad habits or unhelpful behaviours you may have which may be impacting your child or your ability to support your child.
• Try to access any support available for your child and don’t be disheartened if it takes time to find the right type of support for your child.
• Try to communicate openly with your child, let them know you’re there for them and if and when they feel comfortable talking to you about what they’re going through, then be patient.
• Praise and support them with everything, however big or small the accomplishment.

Seek professional advice – Talking to your GP about what support is available for your child is often the best way to start.

Look after yourself – It is important for you to be in a good mental space in order to provide the best support for your child.

Create a supportive environment – Praise your child for all accomplishments. Make sure they know you are always available to listen to them. Try to openly talk about mental health and ask how they are feeling.

Support from the school

In some cases it may be beneficial or necessary to communicate with your child's school, often there will be additional support available such as school counsellors.

Use your own judgement about how much to get involved, it is important to allow your child to have independence and autonomy but if they’re at risk of harm when at school then it is vital for you to inform the school about this.

If your child has predictable behaviours/ symptoms then you should inform the school about what to do in the event that the behaviours/ symptoms occur in school.

If your child is taking medication then be sure to inform the school nurse of this.

The Keep Your Head website (opens in a new tab) has useful information.