There’s no set guideline on what to do when it comes to helping your child through their mental illness and no such thing as a perfect parenting plan.

In Ep. 8 of Season 2, we sit down with Summer Shatat and her 17 year-old daughter, Bayan Rafati, to talk about their journey to mental wellness.

You probably remember Summer who joined us back on Ep. 5 of Season 1, where she opened up about her personal struggles with mental illness, but in this episode, the conversation shifts over to her kids and how she’s choosing to talk to them about their personal mental health journey.

The door is always open in Summer’s house. She’s given her kids a judgement free-zone to express their worries, anxieties and bouts with whatever they may be facing as teenagers in today's society - ranging from bullying to health issues in general. 

But although it was known that this door remained open, it took Bayan some time to build up the confidence to walk through it and let her parents know that she was suffering. The high schooler discusses the struggles she faced in silence and the events leading up to the moment she confided in her parents.

We talk about seeking therapy, how to properly discuss mental health with your teenagers and why it’s important to let them be in charge. We also discuss how to break down the barrier between a daughter and her father and how important it is to allow our children to sit in the driver's seat of their healing journey. 

Parenting is tough and being a teenager with unexplainable emotions is a hardship in itself, too. 

In a time when mental illness is very prevalent and suicide is on the rise - it is crucial that we educate ourselves in the best ways to approach this and normalize these conversations together as a community.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Summer on Instagram: @summer_shatat
Follow Bayan on Instagram: @bayan.rafati