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As the saying goes, mental illness does not discriminate. In other words, even children and young adults can find themselves coping with conditions such as clinical depression. If you suspect your child has depression, the first step for getting them treatment is having an open and honest conversation about the condition. Since you may be unsure how to bring up the subject in a productive yet empathetic way, here are a few tips for getting started.

3 Tips for Talking to Your Child About Clinical Depression

1. Do Something While You Chat

Both children and teenagers are more inclined to open up when they don’t actually free pressured to do so. That means sitting down at the table and having a formal discussion may not necessarily be the best approach. Instead, try bringing up the subject when you’re doing a simple activity together, like coloring, walking the dog, playing catch, or baking cookies. 

2. Be Honest 

depressionYou might feel inclined to sugarcoat various aspects of depression when talking about it, but this could end up causing more harm than good. For example, parents often avoid talking to their teens about suicide because they fear it might put ideas in their head. However, teens who are having suicidal thoughts are usually relieved to have an outlet for discussing them. And those who are not can find comfort in knowing that if they ever were to, their parents would be understanding because they have already discussed it. 

3. Take Baby Steps

It will likely take multiple conversations to get your child to open up about their mental health. Just be patient and appreciate whatever progress you do make during each discussion. It’s important to know when to seek outside help as well, though. If the progress suddenly stops—or your child refuses to open up at all—you can turn to professional counselors for guidance.  

 

The compassionate staff at Daymark Recovery Services is proud to help patients of all ages overcome various mental health conditions. Whether your child has depression or you’re dealing with substance abuse, your whole family can rely on the CARF®-accredited center for quality care. Located in North Carolina, they serve patients across the state with many locations. To browse the broad range of programs and therapies they offer, visit their website

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