Talking to Children About Mental Health

This book was written primarily for the post-pandemic phase, when the world was still adjusting back to its new ‘normal’ and the deadly virus had left many children and families with mental health issues.

But the topics in ‘Talking to Children About Mental Health’ are still relevant – like loneliness, fear, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, grief, identity issues – especially with increasing screentime among children for studies and leisure.

The book begins with an introduction to the ‘Lily Project’ – why the singer, songwriter, counsellor and mental health advocate wrote this book, and her desire to offer practical resources to help families in need. There are a lot of background statistics and personal stories throughout the book to offer credibility, as well as clear, do-able advice sections, written in bullet points, for parents to remember and follow easily. Each chapter addresses a core issue in detail. There are useful websites listed throughout the book for those seeking additional help when things can get really confusing.

This book equips you – and, at the same time, pushes you – to self-reflect in order to understand the unique challenges faced by today’s kids and teens. As with any good book, these are just pointers to identify struggles and make the family and social space safe for children – with professional help to be sought as necessary.

This is a secular book and can be shared with those of all faiths and none, but would be useful for people working with children and young people in church settings too.