Whether you see signs of depression in your child or just want to be proactive about their mental health, use these strategies to engage your kid in conversation.
1. Start the conversation early

?It?s hard to talk to kids about their worst stuff if you?re not having regular conversations,? says Ashley Miller, a psychiatrist with the Mood and Anxiety Disorder Clinic at BC Children?s Hospital in Vancouver. Make sure you?re creating frequent opportunities for discussions to happen. ?Sometimes it?s having neutral time together, where there?s no pressure?going for a drive, going for a walk or doing something the kid likes to do,? says Miller. Ask open-ended questions, like, ?Did you talk to any friends today"? and have free-flowing conversations when you can. 2. Validate their feelings

When your child is upset, your instinct is likely to reassure them that things aren?t so bad. ?But that can minimize their suffering,? says Miller. Let them know you really hear them, and that their experience sounds difficult, by saying something like, ?That sounds terrible.?
3. Confront the scary stuff

When your child is talking about an emotional problem, read between the lines. Kids don?t like to be interrogated. So sometimes it?s better to trust your gut and make an educated guess, such as, ?It sounds like you?re thinking of hurting yourself to get through this numbness.? If they?re showing signs of depression or self-harm, ask about suicidal thoughts. ?When your kid is depressed, ...