What if...?
Culture & Community
Common concerns about cultural stigmas surrounding childhood mental health.
What if my community doesn’t believe young children can have mental health struggles?
What if this is because they don’t feel safe?
What if this changes the way I see my child?
What if my partner and I disagree about what to do?
What if one parent is being blamed?
What if this is connected to grief or loss?
What if this is connected to separation from a caregiver?
What if everyone in the house is walking on eggshells?
What if people think I’m making my child look bad by asking for help?
What if this is causing fights at home?
What if this is because of racism, discrimination, or feeling excluded?
What if grandparents or relatives make things worse?
What if they’re acting out because of what they saw?
What if I feel caught between professional advice and family advice?
What if this is because I’m struggling with my own mental health?
What if I’m worried others will gossip?
What if our family routines are falling apart?
What if I don’t know how to explain this in my first language?
What if I’m too tired to be the parent I want to be?
What if support doesn’t feel culturally safe?
What if they’ve experienced something I don’t fully understand?
What if the advice I’m getting doesn’t fit our family?
What if siblings are being affected?
What if this is because of the divorce/separation?
What if I feel like I have to hide what’s happening?
What if my other children feel ignored?
What if my neighbourhood is causing this?
What if my family thinks mental health support is shameful?
What if they’re reacting to issues in the family?
What if this is because our family has been through too much?
What if I can’t give them stability?
What if my culture has different words for what we’re seeing?
What if this is because we just moved again?
What if I don’t want my child labelled?
What if this is because of violence or stress in the community?
What if no one in my family understands?
What if my faith community tells me to handle it another way?
What if I can’t protect them from the stress around us?
What if I’m isolated because of what we’re going through?
What if this is because of conflict at home?
What if I’m trying to break cycles but don’t know how?
What if I don’t have anyone safe to talk to?
What if my child’s behaviour is affecting my relationship with my partner?
What if this is because of poverty or housing stress?