The teen years aren’t only difficult for parents, but it’s a hard stage for your child too. Your teen gives this push and pull type of communication that it’s hard for parents to fully understand how their teen’s mental health is doing. Since mental health is just as important as physical health, I wanted to share some tips to help teens boost mental health. This is a partnered post, though all opinions are my own.
You must work to be the best parent possible to your teen all the while opening doors to new resources like online therapy that can help your teen boost their mental health. Continue reading to learn some tips that will provide your teen with a chance to boost mental health, regardless of what’s going on in their life.
How to Help Teens Boost Mental Health
Offer Therapy
One of the resources that you should mention to your teen is mental health therapy. This is a private way for your teen to have a trusted source to discuss things with. I know that you want to be the parent that your teen comes to for everything, but even with the strongest of bonds, some teens just feel more comfortable speaking to a trusted stranger.
Be a Friend
No law says you can’t be your teen’s friend. It’s perfectly fine to sit and listen to your teen discuss their feelings or struggles without you giving a lecture. Give your teen plenty of time to vent to you or talk to you during their daily life. You can have a nightly chat where you spend a half-hour simply sitting with your teen while they do something they enjoy and you’ll soon find that they start talking like crazy to you, as a friend.
Encourage Good Sleeping Habits
I’m sure you’re laughing at this one! Teens have the worst sleep patterns out of all stages of childhood. They’ll sleep for hours, if not days, then be unable to sleep for days. This odd pattern of sleep can destroy your teen’s mental health since lack of sleep has been proven to cause depression, anxiety, and irritability among all ages. Do your best to help your teen with good sleeping habits by providing them a relaxing bedroom with ample options like noise machines to encourage good sleeping habits.
Boost Self Esteem
Self esteem is a very important aspect of mental health. Teens with lower self esteem tend to have more mental health issues, so as a parent, you can help to boost your child’s self esteem. Encourage your teen often, and praise the good things that they have done, and compliment the things that make them special to you. Here are some great tips on how your teen can focus on positive self-esteem.
When it comes to boosting your teen’s mental health, you’ll want to try a few different methods all the while being open to options like online therapy. The key to ensuring that your teen comprehends that their mental health is important is to provide them with the right opportunities to discuss their feelings openly. You’ll need to take a step back from the stern parenting role during this time to ensure you’re opening up your heart to help boost your teen’s mental health.
