MY 15-YEAR-old daughter used to be very happy and efficient, but lately she seems like a typical moody teenager and can't seem to focus or get enthusiastic about anything. What can I do?
Sue Rogers, a mental health and emotional wellbeing expert at Action for Children, leads the Blues Programme, the first Britain and Ireland-wide early help scheme for 15 to 18-year-olds in secondary schools.
The Blues Programme is part of Action for Children's Build Sound Minds campaign, which encourages positive conversation and good mental health.
Rogers says: "If you find there are issues affecting your daughter's mood and motivation, then here are a few things which might help.
"Make time to talk and listen. Teenagers don't always want to talk, and it's important to respect her space. If she's anxious, the best thing to do is to let her know you're there if she needs you. Try to get into the habit of having chats about how things are going in general. The more you talk and listen, you sooner your daughter will know she can come to you with problems.
"Get her to spot negative thoughts. If she's struggling with low self-esteem, see if she's happy to tell you how things are going in her life. You may have noticed her saying negative things about herself. Ask why she feels that way. Explain that thoughts may not always affect reality, but can affect our behaviour. Encourage her to start noticing negative thinking patterns and question them.
"Help reduce stress. Encourage her to set realistic goals and expectations, and to see uncertainty as part of life, rather than something to worry about. Notice what activities she finds relaxing, and use these to wind down. And ask her to remember to value herself.
"Give her a sense of belonging. If your daughter's feeling lonely, remind her it's a feeling, related to number of friends or time spent socialising. Celebrate her achievements. Help her learn to take on responsibilities and face fears.
"You can also suggest she takes a note of how social media usage affects her mood. Could she focus on sites that make her feel positive about herself?"
