The Power of Small!
A small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference. Time to Talk is a day where we get the nation to talk about mental health. With everything going on in the world right now, talking about mental health is more important than ever, especially with children.
There is no right way to talk about mental health, but these tips will guide you to make sure you’re approaching it in a helpful way.
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Ask questions and listen
Asking questions can give the person space to express how they’re feeling and what they’re going through, and it will help you to understand their experience better. Try to ask questions that are open and not leading or judgemental – such as “how does that affect you” or “what does it feel like?” Ask questions that are age appropriate.
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Think about the time & place
Sometimes it’s easier to talk side by side rather than face to face. So, if you do talk in person, you might want to chat while you are doing something else. You could start a conversation when you’re walking, cooking, walking home from school or stuck in traffic. However, don’t let the search for the perfect place put you off!
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Be patient
No matter how hard you try, some people might not be ready to talk about what they’re going through. That’s ok – the fact that you’ve tried to talk to them about it may make it easier for them to open up another time. Some children do not like to open up, so giving them an activity to do is a great way to help them with their feelings.
The Bugs Group has some great activities to get children talking such as the worry tree, gratitude jar and positive post it notes. You can see them all here.
Relaxation and breathing techniques are another great way to help children remain calm and help them to open up. YogaBugs has some great guided visualisations and breathing techniques to aid you with this. Below are some examples of how we can help.
For more information, or to book a free trial of our YogaBugs virtual programme in your school click here, call 0121 777 7792 or email us at [email protected]
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