- Fathers can help destigmatize mental health by talking with their kids about it.
- When men practice emotional regulation, they teach children how to do the same.
- There are a number of healthy ways to talk to children about mental health.
Parents play an important role in children’s development and mental health.
“It has been shown in multiple studies that paternal involvement in a child’s upbringing is a protective factor against future child mental illness,” Dr. Kunmi Sobowale, clinical adviser to Little Otter, a pediatric mental health company, told Healthline.
However, when men advocate for children’s mental health, Sobowale said it destigmatizes negative perceptions about mental health, as well as models that fathers have a role in their child’s development.
“This advocacy is particularly important for boys who are more likely than girls to deal with many mental conditions in early life, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder,” he said.
While it’s helpful for all adults to advocate for children’s mental health and promote healthy practices, Parker Huston, PhD, pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, points out that dads face barriers.
“There is a stereotype in some cultures that men do not discuss emotions and mental health openly, which can further the existing stigma about these conversations,” Huston told Healthline.
To initiate conversation about mental health and destigmatize certain conditions with your children, medical experts advise considering the following tips.
Source: healthline