Teen sElf-esteem

Your teen's self-esteem after a psychiatric hospitalization is important.  Self-esteem refers to how we view ourselves and how others see us.  Teens are often coping with many stressors such as peer pressure, social media, and trying to figure out how they fit in with their peers and society.  Teens are also often sensitive to how others perceive them and can have an inner critical voice that negatively compares them to others or judges them harshly.

As parents, we often want to guide our teens, fix their problem, or tell them what to do, but often the most important first step that we can take is to listen and acknowledge how they feel.  Teens need to feel that they have a voice and that they are heard.  Here are some steps that may be helpful in supporting your teen’s self-esteem:

• Listening to your teen

• Helping your teen to explore how they could solve a problem or view a situation instead of telling them what to do or how to feel

• Helping your teen to identify activities that they enjoy and feel successful doing

• Communicating to your teen that they are valued and have unique qualities

• Supporting your teen in helping them to find a way that they can volunteer or contribute to their community

• Helping teens realize when they make mistakes that everyone makes mistakes, rather than letting mistakes define who they are—mistakes can be opportunities for growth and learning

To learn about additional guidance on how to support your teen’s self esteem, click the boxes below.