Child psychologist and parenting counselor Ridhi Doshi Patel says many older generations of parents tend to dismiss mental health struggles as temporary turbulence or just everyday stress.
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It's heartening to see how the conversation around mental health is gaining momentum. Mental health issues are a given and most of us are starting to wrap our heads around them. Statistics show that one in five people suffers from some kind of mental health problem. Several studies also point to increased awareness among young people when it comes to identifying symptoms of mental illness and seeking treatment for it. However, older generations have very different approaches to mental health. According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, many people in the older generation consider the topic of mental illness taboo and have many misconceptions about it. Mental illnesses such as depression are more stigmatized in older generations, namely Generation X.
This is why many children have a hard time convincing their parents to undergo treatment as well. It is never easy for children to resist their parents' teachings. We spoke to child psychologist and parenting counselor Ridhi Doshi Patel about how children can encourage their parents to seek therapy.
There are many people in older generations who have difficulty admitting that their state of mind is not healthy and that they probably have some kind of mental health problem. “Many parents of older generations tend to dismiss their mental health struggles as temporary ravages or just everyday stress, because that's how they've been conditioned to see things. They don't realize they're dealing with something of a serious nature,” says Liddy. She added that there was a lack of awareness about mental health as an issue while they were growing up. This is why they are wired to go into denial mode and carry on with their daily life activities, completely ignoring their mental health.
Today's children, who are familiar with the issue of mental illness, find it especially hard to watch their parents struggle in dire circumstances every day. The latter's complete aversion to therapy, touted as a good option for offloading and better understanding their emotions, is also something that children have great difficulty with. “There are many reasons why parents resist the idea of therapy. A: They may be afraid to admit they need help. B: Many are afraid of the sentence that may befall them. Afraid C: They simply don’t know what to expect from a therapy session and the very idea of it makes them uncomfortable,” Liddy elaborates.
When you seek therapy, it really takes a lot of courage to open up about your feelings to someone else. “In therapy, we discuss personal things with patients to better understand them and their situation. Many people face difficulties in sharing their accounts. Questions like “What would my therapist think if I said this?” It can deter people from seeking treatment,” Liddy explains.
Liddy also said she knows many older parents who come to seek therapy discreetly. “They do it to avoid criticism and gossip. Staying private helps maintain privacy and avoid potential bias,” he says Riddhi.
For all the kids who are having a hard time convincing their parents to go to therapy, Liddy offers some tips to make the process less difficult. Children can sit their parents down and gently express their concerns about their parents' mental health to them. They can tell you that it is heartbreaking for them to see them continually unhappy. You can also start by suggesting how you should open up about your feelings to a dear friend to see if it makes you feel any better. It's also a good idea to give examples of fellow parents who are seeking therapy. By doing this, you can always put the other person at ease.
