Talking to your teen about his or her mental health or substance abuse may be even harder than opening a conversation about sex. But it’s essential you have such conversations, and on a regular basis, states Mental Health First Aid USA.
“The reality is that more than 22 percent of people between the ages of 13-18 will experience a mental health or substance use challenge every year,” writes Danielle Poole.
Poole’s five tips are straightforward, if not challenging:
- Be genuine. Teens can see right through an adult who is “faking it.”
- Be careful about using slang. Stick with language you’re comfortable using.
- Allow for silence.
- Switch up the setting. Where you have a conversation about mental health or substance use could make you or the teen you’re talking to more comfortable.
- Don’t trivialize their feelings.
