Verywell Mind: BUSSW Lecturer Shares Mental Health Tips for Fathers
The popular mental health publication Verywell Mind interviewed Rebecca Minor, a lecturer at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW), to find out how fathers can find and create safe spaces to talk about mental health.
A clinical social worker and gender specialist, Minor’s expertise brings an important perspective to the article about survey findings that say a majority of fathers want more mental health support.
Excerpted from “3 in 4 Dads Want More Mental Health Support, Verywell Mind Survey Finds” (Verywell Mind) by Sarah Fielding:
If you struggle to open up to those in your circle, find other dads or people you trust to ensure a safe space for sharing how you feel, recommends Rebecca Minor, LICSW, a gender specialist and part-time faculty at Boston University specializing in the intersection of gender and sexuality. ‘Engaging in conversations with like-minded individuals can help alleviate fears of judgment,’ she adds.
As for talking about mental health with your children, actions can be just as important as words. In showing your kids that healthy expression of your emotions and taking the time to care for yourself is OK, you give them space to do the same, says Minor. You can create a safe space for them to share how they feel without fear of judgment.”
Rebecca Minor, LICSW (SSW’15) is a BUSSW lecturer and a practicing clinician, writer and speaker specializing in issues affecting the broad spectrum of LGBTQ+ individuals. An alum of the School’s MSW program and recipient of its Urban Practice Scholarship, she completed the BUSSW Trauma Certification and served as a member of its alumni board and steering committee. Her clinical work includes parent coaching for talking to kids about gender.