6 gentle reminders to support your teen’s mental health

By Vivian Nunez

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These mantras can help you, too.

Think about all the times you’ve had a setback to your mood, motivation, or your mental health in general. Maybe it’s popped up as mom guilt after a hard parenting day or in the middle of January to say that the gray days will never leave. Or perhaps you’ve gone through something more serious and lasting. Faced with these challenges, you have probably turned to professional support, a good friend, or tools like mindfulness, movement, or journaling.

But teens are still at the beginning of their mental health journey. They may not yet have all of the tools and resources to manage the emotional ups and downs of life. This is where you can come in!

Below, we pulled together 6 reminders you can share with your teen whenever they need perspective or support. We’ve also added a mental health conversation starter prompt you can use if your teen feels receptive to share more.

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“Everyone has mental health”
Conversation starter: What is it like for you today?
Struggling with a mental health condition can lead anyone to believe that they are alone and singled out in their struggle. Remind your teen that everyone has mental health in the same way that everyone has physical health. This may help them feel less isolated from their peers.

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“You are trying your best, and your best will look different every day”
Conversation starter: Let’s look at today's and yesterday’s best — how are they different or the same?
These words, coming from you, may make a huge difference. Openly acknowledge that your teen is trying their best and that you see it. But, most importantly, their best (and your best or everyone’s best) looks different on any given day because circumstances do change.

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“This is a lot, but we will learn how to navigate it”
Conversation starter: What feels like your highest priority to figure out right now?
Where possible, emphasize that you see the elephant in the room, too—teen mental health is real. Agreeing on a shared reality may help your teen feel less alone as they work to accept whatever they are dealing with.

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“Your feelings are valid, and you’re not alone”
Conversation starter: What is your biggest worry right now?
There are many ways to say, “You are not alone,” but sometimes simple is best. It can also be helpful to emphasize that their feelings are valid and that this means any feelings — whether sadness, anger, or overwhelm.

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“You are worthy of love and support no matter what you are going through”
Conversation starter: What’s one thing I can do to help you feel more loved or supported?
At the end of any day, your teen is still a child who is probably scared and overwhelmed. Even as adults, we all want someone to hold us sometimes and tell us we are loved and will get through this as best we can. Take the opportunity to do this for the teen in your life.

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“You can ask for help whenever you need it”
Conversation starter: Is there anything you need help with right now?
Whenever you bring up the topic of help with your teen, offer them multiple options for how they can ask for help. Here is one way to frame it up: “You are always welcome to say, ‘I need help,’ but if that feels too hard, you can send 😔 emoji or say something like, ‘Hey, I’m not feeling great.’”

Navigating teenage mental health ups and downs can be overwhelming and scary at any age. Jot these affirmations down on your phone or a sticky note so you know what to say or where to turn whenever your teen needs support. For more insight on how to navigate teenage mental health, check out these facts.

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Calm Health is not intended to diagnose or treat depression, anxiety, or any other mental or physical health condition. The use of Calm Health is not a substitute for care by a physician or other health care provider. Any questions that you may have regarding the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition should be directed to your physician or health care provider. Calm Health is a mental wellness product.