Supporting Teen Mental Health and Wellbeing
When a teenager experiences or is at risk of depression or anxiety, it can have a considerable impact on their wellbeing and health. The Child Mind Institute has just released some staggering stats about the Pandemic and its mental and emotional impacts to our teens:
36% of teenage girls felt more anxiety since the pandemic 24% of teenagers had sleep disorders 14% felt a withdrawal from the family unit 62% of teens were worried about their mental health 53% were worried about their financial future. That’s a lot to be concerned about as care-givers. So how do we support our teens through these unprecedented times in human history?
stick with a regular, consistent schedule.
be informed and make choices that empower and meet the teens needs
touch and contact- touch is a primary and basic need, hug them often
negotiate screen time to an amount you both agree on
# limit social media/ news and television
encourage socializing, cultivating friendships, support networks and circle of peers
parents- maintain confidence and manage your own anxiety
keep a journal- journalling reminds us how things like emotions and experiences change
talk and communicate openly about emotions
remind teens how things come and go, like clouds or the weather
notice sensations in the body- taste, touch, smell, hear, see, intuit so they have a felt sense of what’s going on inside them
give a timeline, “How will it feel after exams?”, “How will you feel at the end of the week?”
but most especially, look them in the eyes- smile- relax your face -harmonize your voice-your teen is able to read your body language and social cues through your face, re-assure them through your eyes that they’re safe, loved and protected.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy sessions for teens.