It’s OK NOT to Be Ok… AND it’s OK to Talk About It

  • January 19th, 2022
  • By Pathway Caring for Children

Kids learn from our example. Kids need to know it is OK to share feelings, to express their anxieties, their fears, and their sadness. YOUR mental health is a priority! Mental Health is the wellness of your thoughts, feelings, and view of the world. If we don’t manage and express our thoughts to others we feel alone, and our mental well-being suffers. Just as we pay attention to what we put in our bodies and how we treat our bodies, we need to pay attention to what is in our mind that could be harming us.

Anger, anxiety, and frustration. These are uncomfortable emotions. They’re a lot to handle for anyone… especially for children and teens. Big feelings and emotions can present in unexpected ways in younger children like tantrums and outbursts. Teens may turn to destructive behaviors if they don’t know healthy ways to address emotions.

How can YOU help your kids be OK?

  • Allow room for them to feel. Children and teens often feel their parents won’t understand or can’t handle what may be going on deep down inside.
  • Teach your children to identify and put words to their feelings. Listen to them when they share and respond with understanding.
  • Seek outside help when needed. It may be beneficial both for you and for your child to receive caring and confidential counseling services. YOU are not alone and Pathway is here to support you and your family. https://www.pathwaycfc.org/ok-to-talk-about-it

“It’s OK NOT to Be Ok… AND it’s OK to Talk About It.” Funded by OHMHAS (Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services), this is Pathway’s ongoing initiative focused on equipping one another to guide those in the community who may need more information about the signs of mental health issues, giving each other the courage to talk about it, and the resources or direction to make a referral.

Call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616, 24/7 for free, confidential support.

Your commitment to Pathway provides children the help they need to be ok, to be resilient, and to have hope! You are the difference between children and teens hiding their true feelings, and them finding peace in talking about why they are not ok.