We’ve talked in the past about parents needing to be more thoughtful or more careful what we post online about our childrenespecially if they are old enough to have their say in the information and images that bring you to the digital world. But there is one area where you may be revealing too much information that you might not have thought of, especially when dealing with the pandemic: your mental health.
If we’re squinting really hard to find scraps of silver lining that the pandemic brought us, it could be that we’re all talking more about self-care and mental health than in the past. Suddenly we were all struggling – which was definitely not a pandemic silver lining – but at least it felt okay to acknowledge it. However, here is what the clinical psychologist Annalize Caron wrote for the Washington Post which she has also observed in recent years:
However, a by-product of this greater acceptance and openness has been more parents sharing their children’s mental health issues on online public forums, especially as the pandemic has heightened children’s mental concerns over continued financial hardship, social isolation, and distance learning. Many of the same benefits can occur, e.g. For example, parents receive support, feel less alone, and disseminate information about treatment options. But the most important person in the equation seems to be forgotten: the child.
Whether you’re sharing information about a mental health crisis or a medication change because you’re actively seeking advice, or sharing it because another parent is experiencing something similar and you want to support them or exchange ideas, the end result is a loss of privacy Of your child – and possibly the trust they have in you. Your intentions may be good, but the consequence is that you may feel shame or embarrassment; and at least it is pretty clear that consent to posting information about others online is not mandatory.
We are starting to teach consent to children from a very young age do not force her to hug relatives, ask before we tickle her, and ask for permission to post photos of them on social media. This is another extension that allows you to set these limits for yourself. So much about how our children should behave follows directly from what we set an example for them. Protect your privacy and you will learn why it is important to respect the privacy of others. Overshare, and so will they.
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However, the solution here is simple: just ask them. If you think your story could help someone on the internet who is struggling, you might be happy to share it and be part of an important movement to normalize those conversations – but either way, they’ll appreciate your asking, and it is . They strengthen that they can trust you on difficult topics.
If you need immediate action or other mental health services, this is absolutely something you should give them – but your Facebook group doesn’t need to know about it.
