While the stigma surrounding mental health has dissipated in recent years, many members of society — and the older generation, in particular — are still reluctant to seek out the help they need. If your Boomer parents are among this population, broaching the topic of therapy may be difficult. But it’s important to do so if you feel they could benefit from it.
Here are a few tips for talking to your Boomer parents about therapy:
1. Frame the conversation in a positive light.
When discussing therapy, it’s important to think about how you frame the topic in a positive light. While you might regard therapy as an opportunity for your parents to improve their lives, they may view it more negatively due to past experiences or society’s attitudes towards mental health care. Think of this conversation as something that will offer them valuable tools for improving their lives and reaching their goals.
2. Don’t be judgmental.
It’s important to be supportive of your parents’ decisions when it comes to therapy. If they’re hesitant to seek help, don’t rush them or make them feel guilty. Just let them know that you’re there for them and that you believe in the benefits of therapy.
3. Let them know that therapy is confidential.
One of the main reasons people are reluctant to seek help is because they’re afraid that their personal information will be leaked. Let your parents know that therapy is confidential and that their therapist will not share any information with you without their permission.
4. Help them find a therapist.
If your parents are interested in seeking therapy, help them find a therapist who is right for them. There are many different types of therapists, so it’s important to find one who specializes in the type of care your parents need. You can ask your parent’s doctor for a referral, or you can use online resources like Therapy Finder to find a therapist in your area.
Before you talk to your parents about therapy, it can be helpful to do some research of your own. Your local library and online resources such as those on MentalHelp.net offer free information on therapy and mental health care that will help you feel prepared for this important conversation.
Talking to your boomer parents about therapy and the topic of mental health professionals coming into play is not a hard task especially to baby boomers. Nowadays seeking professional medical advice mental health services from a licensed clinical social worker is easier because the medical reviewers confirm that it is extremely helpful.
Any family member seeking treatment on their mental healthcare behalf is a good thing. It validates mental illness as an illness just like heart disease or diabetes and that it deserves attention and treatment.
When broaching the topic with your boomer parents, it’s important to express that you’re not trying to judge them or lecture them – you simply want what’s best for them. You can frame it by saying something like, “I love you so much and I want to help you in any way that I can.”
This will hopefully allow your parents to open up about what’s going on. Be patient with them instead of getting frustrated when they are hesitant or unsure of what to do next.
Let your boomer parent know that the best thing they can do is to take small steps towards recovery instead of making big leaps. You want to show them that getting help for mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s a positive step in the right direction.
You can make an appointment together and go with your parents in order to give them moral support and guidance during their first meetings. It could be extremely daunting and overwhelming to walk into a mental health service provider’s office for the first time, so this will help them feel less anxious about it.
You can also call up your parents right now and ask them if they need any assistance with finding a mental health professional, and you can also ask them if they would like to schedule an appointment together.
Talking To Your Boomer Parents About Therapy And Mental Illness:
It is important your parent know that you care for their well-being and want to help by treating the situation with empathy and compassion. The following tips could be helpful when speaking to your parents about seeking professional help:
-Frame the conversation in a supportive way, letting them know you want to help
-Stay positive and don’t judge them
-Encourage them to take small steps towards recovery instead of making big leaps
-Make an appointment together and go with your parents for moral support and guidance
-Offer to help them find a mental health professional
-Call your parents and ask if they’re in need of any assistance or if they would like to schedule an appointment together.
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and getting help for it is a positive step in the right direction. Show your boomer parents that you love and support them by talking to them about therapy.
The latest evidence-based research can confirm that both the younger generation are equally susceptible to self-harm like the previous generations. Professional help offered to older parents and also adult children, mental health problems offers a solution for late boomers to brainstorm ways on how to improve their well-being and personal experience in solving their mental health and other own issues. Adults who seek therapy for emotional support due to the stress levels of having kids and other family issues show a good change in their general mental health.
For example, one recent study found that while two out of every three baby boomers live with mental health issues, many brush them off entirely. More specifically, 27 percent don’t tell anyone about their symptoms, and 22 percent believe that these conditions aren’t serious.
This makes perfect sense given that boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964, grew up in a time when mental illness was generally a taboo topic. Many of this generation were raised to think that it was wrong to talk about perceived “weaknesses” and that they should toughen up and deal with these issues internally.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the best approach. We all need support and guidance from others throughout our lives, whether we like it or not.
Therapy For Both Parents And Adult Children: What’s The Difference?
When parents of adult children face their psychological issues, they need to know that there are several forms of treatment available out there.
However, for this type of therapy, the focus is usually on the parents. The therapist will aim to help the parents understand and process the feelings they are experiencing as a result of their child’s mental health problems. This can be a difficult process, as it can stir up a lot of painful emotions. However, it can ultimately be very rewarding for both the parents and the child.
Talking things through helps both parties figure out how to come up with solutions that work best for everyone. For example, your therapist could help you learn strategies that will allow you to cope with your son or daughter’s mental health issues in a more productive manner.
If you’re wondering how to deal with a parent with mental illnesses, you’ve come to the right place. Before we examine what you can do, specifically, to encourage your parents to give therapy a try, let’s take a step back and take a look at some of the major drivers of mental health issues in baby boomers.
What causes mental health issues in boomers?
While some baby boomers might have struggled with mental health illnesses their whole lives, others may develop new conditions as time goes on.
Here are some of the most common conditions boomer parents face — as well as some of the reasons why they come to the surface in the first place:
Depression. Whether boomers are losing their mobility in their older years, have chronic debilitating conditions, or are dealing with the loss of loved ones, it’s not uncommon for them to develop depression in their later years. Similarly, some parents might also look back on their lives and see that they didn’t live up to their potential, made mistakes, or are still angry about something that happened decades ago, and it puts them in a dark place.
Anxiety. A traumatic event (e.g., a car accident), social isolation (e.g., children growing up and visiting less frequently), or financial concerns that come from a loss of a full-time income can cause some boomers to suffer from anxiety disorders. To this end, it comes as no surprise that one study found that 40 percent of boomers said they were anxious or depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Substance abuse. With fewer responsibilities on their plates and more free time on their hands — and perhaps a bit of depression and anxiety thrown into the mix — it follows that some boomers develop substance abuse issues in their later years. Luckily, with therapy and determination, it’s possible to overcome these addictions.
Dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Research Association, one in eight baby boomers will get Alzheimer’s at some point in their lives, with 1 million individuals being diagnosed with the condition each year. While we’re optimistic our loved ones won’t be impacted directly, the odds that this will happen increase over time.
In addition to these, boomers can also deal with interpersonal struggles as their relationships take on new dynamics. For example, a father’s “little girl” might be 50 all of a sudden, raising a family of her own while also taking care of dad as a member of the sandwich generation. In such a scenario, it can be difficult for some dads to understand how the father-daughter relationship has changed and respond appropriately to the associated developments.
The good news is that — though aging boomer parents might develop mental illnesses — all hope isn’t lost.
If you’re caring for aging parents with mental illness or other issues, here are some tactics you can use to help your parents sit down with a geriatric mental health counselor and get treatment.
How to deal with a parent with mental health illness
Ensuring your loved one gets the help they need to keep their condition in check or even conquer it altogether starts with getting your mom or dad to buy into the promise of therapy. And this means that you will have to be direct with them and confront them on the issue sooner than later.
For the best results, approach the situation with love and be as supportive as you possibly can. At the end of the day, you have to remember that you can’t force anyone to go to therapy if they absolutely don’t want to go — which means it might take some convincing to get boomer parents to finally oblige.
As you begin making your pitch, tell your parents that while you respect their autonomy and everything they’ve done for you over the years, you’re sensing some issues they’re dealing with, and you love them and want to do everything you can to help them live their best lives. Gently suggest that they might want to consider talking to an experienced therapist about their issues a couple of times to see whether the experience is worthwhile.
No one has a better idea about how Mom or Dad might react better than you. At this stage in the conversation, you’ll want to be as empathetic as possible, turning on your active listening skills to really see things from their perspective and fully understand the emotions they’re dealing with. Don’t judge them and don’t give them advice. Just listen to understand. Once they feel thoroughly understood, the idea of therapy might not seem so outlandish anymore, and they might agree to check it out.
Focusing on your own mental health
Dealing with aging parents is not an easy time. Roles get reversed, health declines, and you’re increasingly tied up with work and kids.
As you begin the process of convincing your boomer parent to sign up for therapy sessions, keep in mind that you yourself might benefit from therapy during this time, too. As an added bonus, you can use the fact that you’re using therapy as another arrow in the quiver for convincing them to give it a shot.
Before moving the conversation forward, start searching for local therapists for you and your parents ahead of time. That way, you’re ready with a recommendation when your parents ultimately agree to try therapy.
An added bonus: If you and your parents see the same therapist, you’ll be in a great position to support each other through this process.
And, of course, one-on-one or group counseling can do wonders for boomers with mental health issues who want to overcome them and stay healthy. Getting the right help is key to maintaining your mental health and avoiding bigger problems down the line.
If you’re a part of the sandwich generation, chances are you have at least one parent who is dealing with a mental illness. It can be difficult to know how to approach the situation and get your parent the help they need. Here are some tips on how to talk to your boomer parents about therapy.
Be direct and honest with your parents. Tell them that you love them and want to do everything you can to help them, but you’re sensing some issues they’re dealing with. Gently suggest that they might want to consider talking to an experienced therapist about their issues a couple of times to see whether the experience is worthwhile.
Make sure you or someone else in your family can recommend a therapist. Finding a good therapist before the conversation begins will make it much easier to convince your parents to try therapy.
If you and your parents see the same therapist, you’ll be in a great position to support each other through this process.
How to avoid mental illness
As Mental health struggles are on the rise among younger generations also the status quo applies to the older generations. Understanding the fact that mental illness affects all the different generations and even the younger children are not left out. Parents and their children need to know how they can avoid mental illness.
This article provides 5 tips on how to prevent mental illness among the different generations are: parents, young adults, and younger children.
Reading books and watching videos with your children can help you open up a conversation about any struggles your child is facing or might face in the future.
Parents should continue to model healthy behaviors for their children as they get older, including maintaining a good diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and seeking help when needed.
Encourage your young adult children to seek out mentors and support groups as they transition into independence.
Make sure to get regular checkups with your doctor and be on the lookout for any signs of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.
