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Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

NikNikSenior Contributor17 May 2018, 5:02 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

It can be really challenging talking to your parents about your mental health. How will they react? What exactly should I tell them? Will I worry them too much? How do I bring up the topic?

For this Topic Tuesday we will be joined by Jessie, a SANE Young Ambassador & part of batyr's Being Herd program, who will share her own experiences and Gina from ReachOut.com , an organisation that supports young people and parents.

Whether you're already talking to your parents about your mental health or are just thinking about it - join us at 7pm AEST to get tips, strategies and tell us a bit about your own situation.

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Like' button below.

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I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

How do I get involved?

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Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

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78 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

NikNikSenior Contributor05 June 2018, 7:39 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Welcome @Former-Member Glad you could make it!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

JessieBContributor05 June 2018, 7:39 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

@Snowie Thats really good that you found having your husband join you in your sessions helpful. It really does help when the psychiatrist can help convey your thoughts to your loved ones when you can find the words.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

mindboggle18Casual Contributor05 June 2018, 7:39 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

@Gina-Bell,

Totally, and I know that they are not doing it maliciously or their intent is to distress me it's just that they have no depth of understanding. I'm so good at hiding my actual feelings that they have no idea of what is actually going on so I am trying to communicate more with them about how I feel. I'm thinking of using signas or some thing. ...... like happy, or sad face stickers that I can stick on the fridge to communicate how things are r going, any other ideas?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

outlanderSenior Contributor05 June 2018, 7:40 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Hi @NikNik and everyone

Hi @JessieB @Gina-Bell and welcome to you both

Im not up for much posting tonight but am following along

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Gina-BellContributor05 June 2018, 7:42 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

@mindboggle18 It can certainly be challenging to bring up self-harm, and thoughts of sucide with anyone, but especially your parents... this is something that comes up a lot for people in your situation.
Again, it can be helpful to have some information on hand for them to get an educational understanding of the issues.

We have some articles that might help you over on the ReachOut website that can help debunk some myths or reactions they may have.
I also really like this infograph :

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

SnowieSenior Contributor05 June 2018, 7:46 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Q: What experiences have you had in your family up until this point?

Q: What small changes have you or your family made to improve on your mental health?

I try and keep my issues away from my family. I have 2 children who are too young to really understand what is going on.

A small change we have done is if I want to let ny husband know something but cannot talk to him about it, I will write it down and give it to him. I find the whole communicating face to face hard, so writing is easier.

I have also shown him my safety plan so he knows what I need to do and can remind me at times, especially if I am losing it.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

TeejSenior Contributor05 June 2018, 7:47 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Q: What experiences have you had in your family up until this point?

i think the experiences I’ve had have had similar responses from both my kids and my parents. They all want to fix me. The more they become frustrated with me the more they want to fix me. Having said that one of the best things that happened a few years ago was my therapist having a meeting with my parents and kids to explain my mental health to them. For me it had a bigger impact I think coming from her.

Q: What small changes have you or your family made to improve on your mental health?

after my latest attempt my eldest child was really angry (rightfully so). I ended up giving him my safety plan which helped him. I don’t think I could do that with my parents.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

JessieBContributor05 June 2018, 7:48 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

@microp Hi! and welcome,

I had the same issue as you. I struggled with my own addiction issues too. And it was very embarrassing for me, especially telling my family the extent of how bad it was. I was also feeling very guilty for all the lies that I had also told them.

For me, the only way I could be truely happy and to be able to get the best treatment possible, was being honest and open with my family and frriends. It wasnt easy, but I did get there. It made such a difference in my recovery too.

If you stay on this forum, I go through some steps to help you start the conversation with your loved ones.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

Gina-BellContributor05 June 2018, 7:51 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

So many great tips - writing things down can certianly be easier than saying them out loud.

I also like the idea of having a "communication board" of some kind to express how you're feeling with pictures, or symbols. I've heard of this before as being a "thermometer" type thing on the fridge, where you put a mark at where you're at from "good day" to "bad day" or whatever language you prefer.

I also think that's a really important point about sharing your saftey plan with someone in your family. Safety comes first

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

mindboggle18Casual Contributor05 June 2018, 7:52 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Talking to your parents about your mental health // Tues. 5 June 7pm AEST

@Gina-Bell

I know I'm not alone in this situation. Is it okay to give handouts to my parents about mental health stuff? I know they are trying their best. But at some point a part of me doesn't actually want them to know because they are half the problem that has caused me to struggle with my mental health and part of the problem. A part of me is angry at them and keeping them out of the loop is hurting them so I think " good, well you stuffed me up so now it's my chance to stuff you up"

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