Building healthy relationships with young people
Healthy Relationships with young people
Fostering healthy relationships with young people is important for their overall well-being and development. These relationships provide a foundation for emotional stability, self-confidence, and positive mental health outcomes. However, unique challenges exist within these communities that require thoughtful approaches and targeted support.
Safe spaces
One key aspect of building healthy relationships is creating safe spaces where young people feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. Parents/carers should strive to be vulnerable and authentic, allowing their children to see them as real individuals with emotions rather than distant authority figures. This approach helps establish trust and connection, which are essential for open communication.
Are we friends?
Balancing authority and friendship is another important factor. While maintaining a level of authority is necessary, parents/carers should also foster a friendship with their children. This balance ensures that young people feel respected and supported while still recognizing appropriate boundaries. Empowering children to voice their opinions and make decisions, with guidance from adults, builds trust and self-confidence.
Time
Time constraints often pose a challenge for parents/carers and caregivers in nurturing these relationships. To address this, families can prioritise one-on-one interactions, foster relationships with extended family such as aunts and uncles if there is a positive family foundation.
Family discussions where children have a voice can also be valuable in strengthening bonds.
Background research
The wider context, as highlighted by the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (2021), emphasises the critical role of family dynamics and home environments in fostering the well-being of Black young people. Structural racism can impact parents/carers' ability to access support services, making it even more crucial to build strong family relationships.
Recommendations
Recommendations for improving relationships with young people include:
- Invest time in creating safe spaces for open dialogue, allowing young people to express their feelings freely.
- Encourage parents/carers and guardians to balance authority with friendship, fostering trust and respect.
- Empower young people to make decisions and voice their opinions, with adults providing guidance and support.
- Utilise community resources such as Black Minds Matter for culturally relevant therapy and support.
- Participate in programs like Families in Harmony, which offer peer support and therapeutic parenting training.
By implementing these recommendations and utilising available resources, families can work towards building stronger, healthier relationships with young people, ultimately promoting their overall well-being and success.
Citations:
[1] https://www.eif.org.uk/files/pdf/supporting-healthy-relationships-minority-ethnic-parents-guide.pdf
[2] https://howardleague.org/third-sector-and-community-organisations/