成人快手

In a 成人快手 Three documentary - Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives - the radio DJ and TV personality meets families whose lives have been devastated after their child took their own life. He also talks to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and schools to see what support they can offer young people.

To accompany this documentary, Roman has made this exclusive film for Parents' Toolkit, sharing his own experience of poor mental health at school, what the signs were and how Roman and his parents approached difficult conversations鈥

It can sometimes feel uncomfortable or overwhelming to address your own child鈥檚 mental health, but talking about it is the first step. 成人快手 Bitesize Parents' Toolkit has tips and advice from three experts - to help you support your child鈥檚 positive mental wellbeing.

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How do I talk to my child about their mental health?

鈥淎 good tip from me is think about 鈥榬ight time, right place, right pace.鈥 - Dr Beth Mosley

Dr Beth Mosley is a consultant clinical psychologist who works with young people. She suggests choosing an appropriate time for you and your child to talk, and in a suitable place where you won鈥檛 be interrupted. Roman Kemp suggests car journeys or when you鈥檙e doing an activity together, as it can be less intense when you鈥檙e not making eye contact.

It鈥檚 also really important to listen without judging. Dr Mosley advises being 鈥渃urious and kind鈥. Often young people worry they鈥檙e going to be told off for struggling with their feelings, so make sure your child feels understood and cared for, and thank them for opening up to you.

Watch this film with Dr Beth and school mental health lead Kerry Whitehouse to find out more鈥

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At what age should you start conversations about mental health?

Kerry Whitehouse is the Senior Mental Health Lead at a school in the Midlands, and features in the documentary. She believes education around mental health should start as early as possible,鈥淎s soon as children start to recognise emotions.鈥

Describe to your child what they might be feeling when they鈥檙e angry, upset or excited, and explain that all these emotions are part of being human.

Helping your child to understand what emotions are, how they feel and the physical signs of those emotions, will help them to articulate how they鈥檙e feeling as they grow up.

Roman Kemp with some of the Crisis Team at West London CAMHs
Image caption,
Roman Kemp with some of the Crisis Team at West London CAMHs

How do I promote positive mental health in my child?

"Encourage responsibility and self-reflection, praise effort and encourage learning through failure.鈥 - Dr Krause

Dr Nihara Krause is a consultant clinical psychologist and founder of youth mental health charity stem4. She says: 鈥淧romoting positive mental health is a developmental process that starts from birth onwards.鈥

From day one, all children need the basics: feeling secure and loved through family connections, consistent care, predictable routines and being listened to. Keep talking to your child and find out what鈥檚 going on in their world.

In addition, Dr Krause suggests providing 鈥渙pportunities to develop [your child鈥檚] confidence in themselves and to explore. Encourage responsibility and self-reflection, praise effort and encourage learning through failure.鈥

You could also follow Dr Krause鈥檚 MINDYOUR5 model, which focuses on five categories for boosting children鈥檚 wellbeing. Just think 'HAPPY'鈥

H - Healthy practice

Physical health and self-care are vital for good mental health. 鈥淭his includes getting adequate sleep, eating healthily, regular mealtimes, and getting daily exercise 鈥 this can be as simple as a 30-minute walk, a jog in the park or a ball game."

Learn more about how to get a good night's sleep

A - Activity

鈥淕ive your young person the opportunity to do things they enjoy that they can feel a sense of mastery in.鈥 This could be hobbies like baking, sewing, learning an instrument, playing a sport or a whole host of other activities!

Some activities you could do with your child

P - Positive thinking

鈥淭eaching the fundamentals of thinking positively and a healthy mindset is critical to good mental health. A young person鈥檚 interpretation of a situation will determine its outcome.

鈥淚f their perspective is negative, the outcome of their thinking will be negative. Help set some small but achievable goals and give feedback every time they achieve one small step at a time. Catch the worst-case scenario thinking in yourself as well as in them. Help them to see the bigger picture in a negative situation and the potential positives, rather than only focusing on negatives.鈥

P - Positive emotions

As Kerry says, being able to identify emotions, learning to express and manage them is essential to developing positive mental health. 鈥淟isten to your young person鈥檚 fears and worries. Help them to express what they鈥檙e feeling and reassure them you care and will support them.鈥

Y - Your connections

Making and maintaining healthy relationships is important. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e past playdates, encourage your young person to set up group activities 鈥 they don鈥檛 have to cost money. If it involves online activities, keep to agreed boundaries. Help them to learn social confidence through helping them to learn to trust themselves to solve problems. Reinforce the good decisions they make.鈥

Roman Kemp and his father, Martin Kemp, open up to each other while doing a spot of gardening
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In the documentary, Roman, finds a way to open up to his father, Martin Kemp - doing a spot of gardening together

What should I do if my child is struggling?

Senior Mental Health Lead Kerry Whitehouse says every child will be different but look out for signs like your child withdrawing or acting out. Ask yourself whether a change in behaviour could be a more basic need that鈥檚 not being met, or whether there鈥檚 something deeper going on.

Dr Mosley says if you鈥檙e worried about your child鈥檚 mental health, speak to their school, as they will know more about what鈥檚 happening in that part of your child鈥檚 life, and offer advice on services that are available locally.

Watch Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives on iPlayer.

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For more help, the 成人快手 Action Line has links to organisations offering support and information.

is a charity that provides mental health information and advice to young people, and parents and carers.

offers support and advice for children and teens with helplines and messageboards.

has support for under 25s including a 1-2-1 chat service.

The NHS has of children or teenagers with mental health problems.

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