Mental Health Awareness
The dedicated and compassionate team of doctors, therapists, nurses and medical staff from the Cherese Mari Laulhere Mental Health Inpatient Center at CHOC discuss the importance of mental health awareness and the passionate work they do to help patients and families living with mental health issues.
One of the main challenges in addressing mental health issues and seeking help is the stigma attached to it.
The number one way a parent can decrease the stigma around mental health is being brave enough to be vulnerable with their children. Parents can start early by engaging in open communication with their children, regularly checking in on them and validating their emotions. This approach helps children understand that they are not alone in their struggles and that mental health issues do not define them.
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When people hear mental health, I think there’s a negative connotation to it. But mental health is like physical health or social health. It’s on a spectrum.
Here at CHOC we’ve worked very hard to create a trauma informed environment. An environment where we’re de-stigmatizing mental health.
They’re met with our philosophy of care here at CHOC, which is to be trauma informed, empathetic and compassionate.
Whether they’re really struggling with their experiences or having a hard time coping with their daily life, we get to support them and really provide a unique and therapeutic experience for them. And a healing experience for them.
Normalize it. Talk to people. Meet parents of children who have the same condition that your child has. Be as open to learning about it, both from your child and from professionals.
Being open and talking with their kids. To accept and validate how they feel.
Bring the topic up in conversation, not just when they’re needing support. To provide check-ins and support early on.
Being brave enough with your children to be vulnerable. And being brave enough to be vulnerable is probably the number one way you can decrease the stigma around mental health.
It does not define you. Kids or families think that this defines my child, but it’s just a little part of what you’re going through, your little hiccup. But it absolutely does not define who you are.
You know, sometimes the road is long and it can be difficult, but there is hope that you can get from the point you’re at right now to the other side.
You’re not alone and you don’t have to suffer alone. There’s a whole community out there that is ready to help.