How parents can support teens through mental health struggles

A mother having a conversation with her daughter. (Courtesy/iStock)

Unbeknown to many, Mental Health Week is marked in May of each year. We may not be aware of this because most of us rarely take care of our mental health. We may watch what we eat, do a little exercise here and there, and visit the hospital when we are unwell, but seldom do we take time to take care of our mental well-being.

The older generations may chuckle when you talk about seeing a therapist, but few of them appreciate the value of talking through one's problems with a therapist and working towards getting solutions to issues that may be affecting us.

Teenagers, in particular, may experience a higher risk of mental health issues with the onset of puberty. Eating disorders, anxiety and depression, conduct disorders and self-harm are among some issues that teenagers will face.

We may associate puberty with physical changes, but it also comes with significant emotional and social changes, as well as rapid brain development. Many a times, parents may forget and treat their teenagers like grown-ups forgetting that they are still children and need parental guidance.

While most young people will be able to go through their teen years with little difficulty, some of their counterparts with mental health issues may succumb to peer pressure and the desire to conform which consequently affects their ability to make sound decisions. Similarly, for this latter group, there may be greater anxiety around body image that may lead to eating disorders. This is also the period when most teenagers will rebel as they seek more independence from their parents.

Sadly, mental health is still considered a taboo in some societies, amongst some sub-tribes in Western Kenya, issues surrounding depression and suicide are unmentionable. Among the Luyhas, those who commit suicide are buried outside the home to cast out their evil spirits, the Luos are known to cane the corpses of those who have committed suicide to deter the spirit from coming back and influencing the rest.

While such actions may be believed to prevent further suicides, perhaps a better solution will involve dealing with the issues that surround depression and suicide. As parents and carers, we must always look out for any noticeable and persistent change in our children. This may involve monitoring their eating habits as well as looking out for any signs of self-harm. For some teenagers, this may present with a lack of motivation and loss of interest in activities that they previously enjoyed.