It’s important to check in with your teenager to see how they’re feeling about things right now, keeping in mind that some teens are more open with their emotions than others.
If your teen seems increasingly sad, depressed, hopeless, withdrawn or anxious, you may wish to request an online appointment with their physician or connect with a mental health professional.
Your teenager may be more inclined to participate in other risk-taking behaviours during this time, including alcohol or drug use, so it’s important to check in with them and talk with a mental health professional or physician if you’re unsure whether or not to be concerned.
Tips to support your teen during this time
There are some simple things you can be doing to support your teen right now. Here are some to consider:
- Work with your teenager to establish a schedule that includes daily physical activity and outdoor time. Offer suggestions, but encourage your teenager to establish this schedule on their own. Encourage your teenager to stick to this schedule as much as possible.
- Allow your teenager to have private time away from everyone else in the family. If your teenager shares a room with another family member, create a schedule for each to have time alone in the room. That allows them some independence from the family.
- Help your teenager establish new goals during this time, which could include helping others, learning a new skill or completing online courses.
- Encourage your teenager to reach out to friends and family through text, video chat or other social media platforms. Help them to come up with virtual ways to connect with other – virtual game night, Netflix parties, dance parties, guitar lessons online, etc.
- Find an activity or project that you can do with your teenager. Learn about what they are interested in at this time and find ways to connect to things that they are most passionate about.
- Connect to your teenager through humour. There’s nothing funny about COVID-19, but finding ways to laugh in the midst of crisis is a healthy way to relieve stress and anxiety.
