LFPWLI: Our kids need help - How to help young people struggling with mental health with Meryem Tahiri

In this episode, Mathew and Meryem discuss challenges parents face when seeking help for their children's mental health issues, why parents often don't know what kind of help they need, and why that means a large part of her job working with children is also about supporting their parents. Meryem explains why trauma is different in children compared to adults and how parents can detect early signs of mental health issues by being attentive to the nonverbal signals their children send. Mathews asks about coping mechanisms and tools that families can use to help manage their kids' mental health and which things are the kids' responsibilities and which are the parents. Meryem also touches on the need for healthy communication, setting consistent expectations and boundaries, and why parents need to recognize and own their mistakes. She emphasizes the importance of celebrating success, being okay with failure, treating children fairly, and understanding that positive energy attracts positive energy. Meryem is on a mission to provide hope, understanding, and educational insight for parents who may be struggling with their children's mental health and kids who just want to feel better.

Here are the facts, as of the time of this recording:

ER visits are up 20% for teens with depression and anxiety

16% of kids have a suicide plan 

Suicide attempts among girls are up 50%

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory last December to highlight the URGENT need to address the youth mental health crisis further exposed by COVID.

Feelings of sadness and hopelessness are up 40% for more than 1 in 3 kids

 Meryem Tahiri has lived on four continents prior to settling down in the United States and is able to speak and write in five languages. She has her master's degree and comes from a family of health professionals. Currently, she is working with people between the ages of 12 and 25. She is on a mission to help heal one child at a time and has hope they can all reach their true and best potential. She is a believer that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and we believe that she is one of the reasons it shines.

"Once you know how to save a child at a young age, they can show their best potential as an adult."

In this episode, you'll hear:

Tools and coping mechanisms for children who are struggling

Tips to help parents have hard conversations

Steps you can take after you realize you have made a parenting mistake

Follow the podcast: 

Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM) 

Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE) 

 

Resources:

Learn From People Who Lived It, Episode 1 - Karie

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/ 

Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/ 

Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/

 

Additional Credits:

LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson