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Five ways to support your child's mental health

Welcome!

This pathway is about the ways parents (and other important adults in a child’s life) nurture children’s development and mental health. From decades of research with parents and children, and advice from hundreds of families and health professionals who support them, we identified five key ways parents can nurture and protect the mental health of infants, children and young people. 

Whether you’re a new or experienced parent, and whatever the shape of your family, this pathway offers evidence-informed strategies as well as tips from other parents to: 

  • strengthen your parent–child connection 

  • support your child’s emotional development and understand their behaviours 

  • create family routines and rituals 

  • improve family communication and help children make meaning of their experiences 

  • identify who’s in your support network and how to get help for yourself, your child or your family when you need it. 

Modules

Understanding children's mental health

15 minutes
Learn what shapes your child’s mental health and what you can do to nurture positive mental health – during times when life is good and when your child or family is experiencing challenges.

Building positive connections to support your child's wellbeing

15 minutes
Build a strong parent–child connection and support your child’s positive connections with others to help increase their feelings of safety, belonging and self-worth.

Understanding and supporting emotions and behaviours

15 minutes
This module introduces the foundations of children’s emotional development. It includes information about the purpose of emotions, what to expect in children at different ages and what you can do to support healthy development.

Creating family routines to support children's mental health

15 minutes
Help children feel secure, reduce stress and make time for connection and fun through creating or continuing routines and rituals.

Talking with children during tough times

15 minutes
Learn how clear communication with your child helps them understand and ‘make meaning’ of their experiences, particularly during tough times.

Building support networks and getting help when you need it

15 minutes
Consider who you can rely on, how to get support when you need it and ways to help your child build their own support team.

Start this pathway

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Urgent help

If you are feeling overwhelmed or low, or you are concerned that someone in your family is struggling or might be thinking of suicide, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If anyone's life is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000)

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We recognise and pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their ancestors, the elders past, present and future from the different First Nations across this country. We acknowledge the importance of connection to Land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family and Community for the wellbeing of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

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