© Maskot cbsn-fusion-how-to-save-children-and-teenagers-from-social-media-harm-thumbnail-1852377-640x360.jpgTeens are in for a mental health crisis, but there are things parents can do to help their children .
In an interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell, Lisa Damore, clinical psychologist and author of The Emotional Lives of Teens, shared two things all children need for healthy development: warmth and structure.
"If you take all the science that we have done in the field of psychology for decades, parents can understand not only the love of their children for young people, but also what we need - warmth," Damore shared. "And the structure is that there are roles and projections in family life. It has been proven time and time again to be a magical combination."
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Damore admits that sometimes it's difficult with teenagers because "they don't always accept our warmth."
"They may feel like they're moving away from us, but I think the most important thing for teenagers is to remember their work and not take it personally."
Another peculiarity about teenagers is that sometimes they feel sad feelings that they want to share and that's it, he explained.
"They're going to get a bad grade in school, and they get it, and they want to get rid of it. And sometimes they contact their parents by text, on the phone, or in person. And they say something horrible, 'Oh, I've got this horrible test. I'm going to fail. Can I work in the outside world?'" I never know.
This usually makes the teenager feel better, even if the parents don't use it. This is because expressing emotions helps reduce pain.
"The stress is put on the parents and the parents feel worse than before and we have to realize that this is often what makes teenagers go about their daily lives," he explained. - Just to get out.
When children share discomfort, parents' first response is to offer advice, feedback, or ask questions.
Instead, DeMure recommends remembering that teenagers are just looking for sympathy.
"My first sentence as a parent, when my daughters talk about their anxiety, is, 'Oh, that stinks. And in most cases, that's all they want," he says.