Ignoring Mental Health in Kids is Like Ignoring a Broken Arm: The Importance of Talking to Your Child About Their Feelings
As parents, we understand that kids need physical care—when they break a bone or suffer an injury, we rush them to the doctor. But when it comes to mental health, too often we ignore the signs or tell our kids to "tough it out" when they’re feeling anxious, depressed, or struggling with self-esteem. However, mental health is just as important as physical health, and addressing it early can make all the difference in how children navigate challenges as they grow.
A Broken Arm
Imagine your child breaks their arm. What do you do? You take them to the hospital or urgent care, right? You don’t tell them to "just walk it off" or "stop crying." You recognize that their injury needs attention, and you seek professional help to ensure proper healing. The same approach should be applied to mental health. Just like a broken arm requires care, anxiety, depression, or self-esteem issues need to be addressed in a way that helps your child heal emotionally.
Why Mental Health Matters in Kids
Mental health problems in children can look different than in adults. Anxiety might manifest as stomachaches or difficulty sleeping. Depression could show up as irritability or withdrawal. Self-esteem issues may present as negative self-talk or reluctance to engage in activities they once loved. Ignoring these signs can lead to bigger challenges down the road, such as ongoing struggles with anxiety, depression, or low confidence.
Teaching your child how to handle their emotions and addressing mental health concerns early on, helps them build the tools they need to manage life's ups and downs. Mental health isn’t something that will just "get better" on its own, and ignoring it only makes things worse.
How to Approach Mental Health with Your Child
If your child is feeling anxious, depressed, or struggling with self-esteem, it’s important to take them seriously. Just like you wouldn’t expect a broken arm to heal without proper care, don’t expect their emotional wounds to heal without addressing them. Here are some steps to take:
Start the Conversation: Ask your child how they’re feeling. Create a safe space where they feel comfortable talking about their emotions without judgment. If they’re too shy to open up, try sharing your own feelings to show it’s okay to talk about difficult things.
Validate Their Feelings: It’s essential to let your child know that it’s okay to feel sad, anxious, or frustrated. Their feelings are real, and they deserve to be heard. Reassure them that it’s not a sign of weakness to feel vulnerable.
Seek Professional Help When Necessary: If your child’s anxiety or depression seems to be affecting their daily life, it may be time to seek professional support. A therapist or counselor can help your child develop coping strategies and build resilience.
Provide Tools for Emotional Health: Teach your child about mindfulness, breathing exercises, and other emotional regulation strategies. Just as we teach our kids to brush their teeth every day, emotional care should become part of their daily routine.
Creating an Open Dialogue About Mental Health
When you initiate these conversations you’re showing them that their mental health is just as important as their physical health. It’s vital to create a culture in your home where mental health isn’t a taboo subject. Talk openly about feelings, emotions, and mental well-being so that your child knows it’s okay to seek help when they need it.
“Toughing It Out" Doesn’t Work
When children are told to "snap out of it" or "stop being so sensitive," they may internalize these messages and feel ashamed of their emotions. This can lead to suppressed feelings, lower self-esteem, and avoidance of talking about their mental health as they get older. Over time, this can lead to bigger issues like depression, anxiety, or poor emotional regulation.
As parents, we play a huge role in teaching our kids how to manage their emotions and seek help when needed. Just like a physical injury needs professional care, mental health struggles deserve attention, understanding, and the proper resources.
Addressing your child’s mental health concerns is just as important as taking care of their physical health. Don’t ignore signs of anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem—just like you wouldn’t ignore a broken arm. Create an environment where it’s okay to talk about mental health and provide your child with the tools they need to manage their emotions. You’ll not only help them feel better, but you’ll also set them up for a healthier, more resilient future.
Teach your child to speak up and seek help when necessary, you are fostering a future generation that understands that mental health matters.
I’m a Sex Counselor and Yoga Teacher. I work with individuals, couples, non-monogamous relationships, and groups in topics related to sexuality, emotional regulation, communication dynamics, and changing behaviors.
