The Daily Telegraph

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY DON’T WANT TO TALK TO YOU

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It isn’t easy to speak to a teenager at the best of times, but especially when the topic at hand is their own mental health. According to clinical psychologi­st Dr Nihari Klause, there are several key things to remember:

“Know it won’t happen in one big chat. You need to break it up, and gently ease into it over a series of different conversati­ons. The dinner table is not a good environmen­t. They will feel interrogat­ed and like they’re being told off. Instead, car journeys, walks and while you’re both doing something else can be good. There is less eye contact and less pressure.

Keep things open and be comfortabl­e with silences, but be an active listener when progress is made. Really try to put yourself in their shoes.

Accept that you might not be the best person to talk to them at first. There are apps, websites and helplines, and friends, siblings and other adults such as godparents, who can start these conversati­ons if they are worried about speaking to you.”

‘Keep things open and really try to put yourself in their shoes’

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