September is “National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month” in the United States. On September 16, the Chinese American Women’s Advance (CAWA) held a press conference regarding the upcoming “Mental Health Seminar” scheduled for the 23rd. Vice President Xu Zhende, who has been in the United States for 41 years, shared a heartbreaking story of a teenager she knew who suffered from depression and ultimately took their own life.
Renowned mental health counselor Liu Yuanfen provided valuable advice on how parents can care for and protect the mental health of teenagers. She emphasized the importance of spending quality time with children, limiting their screen time and gaming activities, recognizing early warning signs, and seeking guidance from clinical social workers when necessary.
Liu Yuanfen highlighted the dangers of teenagers becoming addicted to online games, some of which may provide misleading guidance. She mentioned that some children even play games involving “super murder,” mistakenly believing that characters can be resurrected after random killings.
Explaining why gaming addiction is common, Liu Yuanfen pointed out that electronic games often have stimulating points every 6-7 minutes to attract the player’s attention, making addiction easy to develop. She advised parents to intervene early to prevent addiction by limiting game time, finding alternative interests for children, and redirecting their focus.
In addressing younger children’s habits, Liu Yuanfen suggested seeking guidance from older siblings as they are more likely to listen to their peers. She also stressed the importance of parents setting an example by limiting their own screen time to enhance communication and discipline with their children.
Liu Yuanfen emphasized the normalization of seeking help for mental health issues, equating it to physical ailments like colds or knee pain. She clarified that not all situations require medication, and seeking assistance is crucial when facing mental health challenges.
Regarding seeking help, Liu Yuanfen corrected misconceptions, explaining that for mild emotional issues like low mood, anxiety, or depression that haven’t progressed to severe conditions, consulting with clinical social workers or therapists for psychological support is often the initial step, as opposed to seeing psychiatrists or psychologists.
Liu Yuanfen differentiated the roles of mental health professionals, highlighting that psychiatrists primarily prescribe medication for conditions like schizophrenia, while psychologists focus on research and educational guidance rather than day-to-day behavioral issues of children. She emphasized the significant role clinical social workers play in providing emotional support and counseling.
Liu Yuanfen will be delivering a speech on “Recognizing and Facing Common Mental Challenges” at the “Mental Health Public Welfare Seminar” hosted by CAWA on September 23rd at 10:45 a.m. The event will take place at 133-32 41st Road Flushing, USA.