Make yourself available

We all have busy lives and sometimes
our children may feel we are too busy
to chat. Make your presence known
to your child and let them know you
are happy to talk and listen to them
about any worries they may have. You
don’t need to set aside lots of time to
have a chat just opening up can make
a difference. Keeping it informal and
taking an interest in what they are
doing allows opportunities to strike
up a conversation.

Talk about your day

Set time aside each day to chat to
each other about your day both the
good and the less positive things
that happened. Try ending the day
on something positive ready for
the next day.

Notice how your child
communicates in other ways

Children and teenagers express
themselves in different ways not
just through talking but through
play, music, behaviour, body language
and facial expressions. You can
learn a lot about how they may be
feeling by spending time with them
and watching them play or engage
in activities.

Use appropriate
language

Depending on the age of the child,
they may not understand the
terminology associated with mental
health. Children will understand
the idea of feeling sad, stressed or
anxious; explain that this is what is
meant when we talk about mental
health. For younger children, you
can use face flashcards to illuminate
different emotions.

Keep an open mind

Try to avoid being critical or
dismissive of children’s feelings and
be accepting in order to normalise
talking about mental health.

Ask for help

Remember, no one has all the
answers; not knowing things
about mental health is OK. Don’t
be afraid to ask for help from
family and friends, a doctor or
support organisations.