Children have a natural instinct for curiosity and ask many questions throughout their childhood about mental health. Allowing a child to understand mental illness can be a challenge for adults and for children as well. It can be very confusing for a child to understand and comprehend different emotions. Confusion and misinformation about mental illness can lead to anxiety and can strengthen stereotypes that lead up to a stigma surrounding mental health.
When explaining mental health to a child and how it differentiates from person to person, as well as its affects, it may be easier for a child to understand if you use physical illness to compare it to. For example, many people get sick – such as the flu or a cold – but only some get really sick with something serious and need to be hospitalized. The more questions the child asks, the better it is for their understanding.
When parents open up about mental illnesses with their children, they should be comfortable and informed with what they are discussing. They should have a basic understanding of what type of questions their children are going to askand should be able to answer them in a simple manner. However, for some parents, it is ideal if they would research more about mental health to be able to give simple explanations to their children.
Parents or even yourself – be it having a sibling or a child – should be aware of a child’s needs, knowledge, concerns, and their overall experience with mental health. When you are approaching the conversation about mental health to a child, make sure to keep these points in mind –
- Communicate the conversation in a straightforward and honest manner
- Communicate in the simplest way, depending on the child’s age and level of understanding
- Discuss when your child/sibling is feeling comfortable and at ease
- Keep an eye out for their reaction
- Slow down and explain things as easily as possible if the child looks stressed or confused
Pre-School Age
Younger children need less complex information and details due to their level of understanding. Pre-school children depend on things they can see such as physical illnesses. They question physical appearances and strange behaviors. They can also be very aware when someone is crying and can understand that, when someone cries, it means that theyare sad or upset, as well someone who is shouting in an angry tone.
Younger children who have not developed a sense of feelings and emotions yet can be more difficult to explain certain things to. Yet, they eventually tend to figure it out through experience. Nonetheless, allowing the child to be open to curiosity will help them develop their own understanding.
School–Age Children
Older children from ages ranging from 11-12 and above want more specific and detailed explanations. They are more curious and get more concerned, especially when they are witnessing their family and friends going through emotional or strange behaviors. They begin to question specific things they notice and become very straightforward with their questions, such as, “why is that person crying?”, “why are they sad?”, “why are my parents upset?”, “why is that person yelling like that?”, and so on.
They may start worrying about their own safety and the safety of their parents, friends, or any family member struggling with their mental health. They may already have a surface understanding of mental health but not in detail or in depth as to what type of mental illnesses there are.
It is important to make your child feel as though they are acknowledged and mature enough to have a discussion about mental health. You should not let them feel as if they are just young and would not understand, as they may grow up believing that what they are experiencing is not normal, and that is where mental health becomes stigmatized. Allow your child or sibling to feel free when asking any question, and explain it to them with full understanding.