Five Ways to Support the Mental Health of Neurodivergent People
In a world designed for neurotypical people, it’s no wonder that mental health is a common concern for neurodivergent people. What may seem like disorganization, laziness, apathy or even rudeness may actually be hiding mental health struggles - struggles with feelings of overwhelm or even depression. I have five quick tips on ways to address mental health concerns.
Foster an understanding and supportive environment- seeking to understand a behavior instead of punishing or trying to control addresses the root concern, not just the behavior, and will allow for real change and growth.
Provide supports & accommodations- for those with co-occurring mental health diagnoses, these accommodations can be tailored to acknowledge how their mental health diagnosis and neurodivergence may be interacting with or amplifying each other and could vary from extended time on exams to co-planning.
Find therapeutic supports- Therapy is a common and helpful support for any type of mental health concern. If you are interested in finding therapeutic support for your child but are unsure what type of therapy or therapist would be best for your child, check out my webinar Finding the RIGHT Therapist for Your Child.
Lean into strengths & interests- embrace robotics club or gaming groups or lego meetups or whatever you/the person you’re supporting are into! The important thing is having time to do something they care about while being in a space that allows them to be unapologetically themselves.
Consider other supports such as tutoring, coaching or medication options.
I discuss this topic in depth in this episode of my podcast, Parenting Neurodivergent Humans. I cover similar topics in my twice monthly newsletter. You can subscribe here.