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- Parents Need Mental Health Support Too...
Parents Need Mental Health Support Too...
Enhance the mental health of your whole family
Grace Bedsole
May 23, 2023
Happy Friday everyone, welcome to today's newsletter - let's chat about parent mental health.
Remember, we're here to help you worry smarter, not harder!
A Quick Thought From Us
Did you know it is mental health awareness month?
We believe that the quickest way to improve mental health within a family unit is by ensuring the well-being of every individual. If your teen has been struggling and receiving support, while no one else in the family unit is, it's important to consider the overall mental health of your family. Think of it as the growth of a garden—it can't effectively thrive by only watering one plant! 🌱
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of mental health support for parents, common concerns involving therapy, how to address conversations about mental health with your teen, and where to access the best support for you and your family.
What happens in therapy?
So, what really goes on behind the curtain of therapy? As a parent, here is what you can expect from a mental health expert:
Learn an array of tools to practice effective communication and listening.
Learn ways to identify signs of struggle in yourself and others.
Many parents feel a sense of guilt when their teens are struggling emotionally. An expert can help you process those emotions and aid in your healing.
Have a safe, qualified, unbiased outlet to express your emotions which will help reduce stress and anger.
Learn to reflect in a non-judgmental way and practice self compassion.
Set up goals for yourself and a better functioning environment.
Common Concerns
"I feel nervous about the potential awkwardness of talking to a stranger about our issues..."
Sometimes, engaging in therapy with your teen’s therapist or vice versa may feel uncomfortable, considering the inherent vulnerability of the task. Consider offering to find a family therapist and schedule sessions as needed. Remember, your therapist is here to act as an unbiased mediator and is not there to tell you or your teen what is right or wrong, but rather to guide the conversation in effective and healthy ways.
"I don't have any free time!"
Managing raising a family, work, and personal matters takes up a lot of time. There may be barely any time to squeeze in a weekly therapist meeting. If this resonates with you, keep in mind that there are therapists who offer sessions on an as-needed basis instead of weekly. Additionally, counselors generally focus on short-term, issue-based matters rather than long-term problems.
"I really want the help, but I can't afford it."
In 2023, receiving the necessary care for your family is by no means cheap. Despite the growth in treatment and mental health awareness, 42% of diagnosed adults in 2023 reported that they could not afford the help they needed. Additionally, in a recent study, it was found that 1 in 14 children had one or more caregivers with poor mental health. Less expensive options to consider are support groups for parents and siblings, participating in a workshop on parent management, and inquiring with your teen’s therapist about the possibility of a parent or sibling joining for a session or two.
How to talk to your relatives about mental health
Along with seeking support for yourself and your family, keep in mind the importance of maintaining an open space to discuss mental health and normalize check in’s.
Knowing how to start the conversation about your family’s mental health can be daunting. Here are three things to keep in mind:
Respect their boundaries; let them open up to you on their timeline. Don't push the conversation if it doesn't flow naturally and you sense any tension.
Share how you feel. The conversation about mental health works best when it's a two-way street, plus being vulnerable together will help strengthen your bond.
Let them speak freely and assure them that you are here to listen, offer comfort, and refrain from judging or immediately jumping to solutions. Instead, approach the conversation as a team.
Where to find the help you need
Here are some links that include databases and step-by-step guides to help you find the best fit for mental health support. These resources provide information on support groups, group therapy, and individual therapy & online therapy.
Learning the Landscape - Being a teen in 2023, kinda sucks
The current generation of teenagers has suffered more than any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stressors of the modern digital world. Teenagers face more pressure to succeed than ever before and the combination of social distancing and social media has left teens feeling lonely, stressed, and anxious. In addition, parents are drained and burned out trying to manage the unknown ramifications of their teens' struggles in an unfamiliar digital world. Teens have always turned to their friends and parents to help them get through the hard parts of adolescence. Unfortunately, in 2023, teens have been left to rely only on themselves.
Feeling a bit more in tune with your teen? Schedule time to chat with our Somethings experts and learn more about our program below.
Send us feedback, questions, ideas, and more to [email protected].
See you all next week!
