How To Help Kids Develop Resilience

Adopting a parenting style that is mindful of a child’s developing brain is crucial to their mental wellbeing, says dr joanna north

- Erin Fisher

Silence at the dinner table, the slamming of bedroom doors, arguments, tantrums and tears – no one is denying that parenting a child or teen is hard, but for the most part, mood swings and the occasional outburst should be exactly that; occasional. In recent years, however, child and adolescent mental health statistics have become increasingly alarming.

Anxiety in young people is now commonplace and according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, almost 15 percent of young people between the age of four and 17 will have had a mental health disorder within the past 12 months.

A report published in 2015 also drew attention to the worrying rates of depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts in teenagers, with approximately one in 10 indicating that they have engaged in self-harming behavior, and nearly one in five girls 16-17 years old meeting the clinical criteria for depression.

Parenting is hard enough without throwing mental health issues into the mix. Award-winning child psychologist Dr. Joanna North has more than 30 years of experience working with children, adults, and families, and has seen how mental health conditions impact children and their families.

Her new book, Mind Kind, addresses the complex task of being a parent today and provides a guide to helping your child grow into a strong and resilient person, plus tips on skilfully supporting a child who is going through more serious mental health struggles.

Empathetic parenting

Competition, pressure, and perfectionism can be rife across the school, social media platforms and among friendship circles, and any stress that parents are under is also quickly picked up by children. For developing young minds, it’s a heavy load to handle, and it’s no wonder anxiety is on the rise.