Where Does Managing Mental Health Begin ?
by Dr . Caroline Leaf
Although mental health challenges aren ’ t new , they ’ re different for each generation . Take bullying — it isn ’ t a new phenomenon exclusive to the twenty-first century . Now , however , children take bullying home with them on their phone , tablet , or computer . No place seems safe . A great expanse of human social interactions has changed with the advent of the technological revolution . These changes have transformed the way many people , including children , perceive themselves and the world around them , which has contributed to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation among all age groups as we spend more and more time online and alone .
The world is changing , and sometimes it can feel like we ’ re barely keeping our heads above water , whether we are parents , guardians , or vulnerable children just trying to figure out our place in the world . These feelings have been exacerbated through the recent pandemic and other major world events , which often make everything seem worse , further straining our sense of mental wholeness .
When it comes to addressing these issues , we must first acknowledge that we are more than just individuals with individual problems . We are humans in a community , which means we need to address mental health on both the individual and the communal level . According to the Mental State of the World Project , countries that score higher in individualism and performance orientation tend to have lower mental well-being metrics , while countries that score higher in group and family collectivism tend to have better mental well-being . 3 We cannot think of the child as only an individual ; we have to consider the child in addition to the environment they occupy , including how we as adults manage our mental health and how this can impact our children .
We need to look at how we ’ re teaching our children to process and navigate the new world in which we live . Are children
20 • Autumn Sale being shown how to manage their mind ? Are we teaching our children to navigate the highs and lows of life ? Are we helping them understand , from youth , that where the mind goes , the brain and life follow ?
This process starts with us as parents : how we manage our mental health is a model for how our children will manage their mental health . Research reflects that the unmanaged stress of an adult becomes the unmanaged stress of the child . So , one of the best ways you can help your child with their mental health is by working on your own mental health .
It ’ s our job as parents , caretakers , and educators to help them navigate a world that can easily feel scary and overwhelming . One of the best ways we can do this is by giving them the gift of mind-management .
Adapted from Dr . Caroline Leaf , How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental Mess ; Baker Books , a division of Baker Publishing Group , © 2023 ; Used by permission .
How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental Mess
Dr . Caroline Leaf Teaches you how to help your child recognize negative feelings and respond in a healthy way . ( Baker Publishing Group ) HC 9780801093418 $ 28.99