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How can Family Movies Help Navigate Difficult Conversations with Children about Mental Health and Mortality?

Using Movies to Talk About Mental Health and Mortality

Navigating difficult conversations with children about mental health and mortality can be a daunting task for parents. However, a well-chosen family movie night can provide a gentle and engaging way to broach these sensitive topics. With their childlike wonder and beloved characters, movies can help parents break the ice and start meaningful conversations. Research shows that incorporating these films into a family movie night can open the door to discussions that help children feel more empowered over their emotions and better understand delicate parts of life!

Son and dad sharing time together

Foster Emotional Intelligence Through Movie Discussions

Watching movies together can be a powerful bonding experience for families, fostering meaningful discussions that nurture children's emotional intelligence and critical thinking abilities. As a counsellor, I encourage parents to use movie-watching as an opportunity to engage with their children. Discussing the characters' decisions, emotions, and relationships can help children develop empathy and critical thinking skills. It’s also a great way to connect and understand their perspectives on various issues.


Conquer Your Fears: Orion and the Dark - An Inspirational Journey to Self-Worth

Discussing themes like fear, self-worth, and facing challenges through movies like "Orion and the Dark" (rated PG) can greatly benefit kids. This animated movie is about Orion, who is afraid of just about everything, from talking to girls to falling off skyscrapers, bees, haircuts, field trips, getting answers wrong in class, PE, and bullies. But the thing he fears most of all is the dark.


When young Orion gets to know Dark and his friends, including Sleep, Sweet Dreams, and Unexplained Noises, he realises that there’s nothing to be afraid of. It's a funny and clever animation about children overcoming their fears and finding their inner courage.


Ideas to Discuss:


  • Overcoming Fears: Fear is a natural emotion and a part of life. It’s OK to be fearful, but it’s important to face your fears and not let them determine your destiny.

  • Self-Worth: Finding your inner worth and knowing your true value, regardless of how others perceive you.


Embrace Every Emotion: Finding Beauty in Sadness and Joy with "Inside Out"

"Inside Out" (rated PG) is an animated comedy about a girl named Riley who is uprooted from her life in the US Midwest when her father gets a new job in San Francisco. Riley is largely guided by her emotions, each of which is shown as an actual character: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. These emotions live in a place called the Headquarters, the control center of Riley’s mind, and they advise Riley in her day-to-day life. Each emotion has a particular purpose.


Ideas to Discuss:


  • Emotional Balance: Experiencing a full range of emotions, even negative ones like sadness, is important. It helps you appreciate positive times and enriches your life.

  • Expression of Emotions: Showing your emotions is crucial so that others know when you need care and attention, especially when you don’t have the words to say what you need.


Discussing Mental Health with "Turning Red"

Discussing mental health with young children can be challenging for parents. Research shows that children only start developing the skills to manage their emotions effectively during preschool years and may not concretely understand what emotional regulation entails. However, "Turning Red" (rated PG) provides an excellent opportunity to discuss mental health with children. Its focus on strong emotions and their effects creates a relatable and visually engaging metaphor for the intense emotions that children often feel but struggle to express.


Ideas to Discuss:


  • Emotional Triggers: What are some situations in the movie where Mei’s emotions caused her to transform?

  • Support Systems: How did Mei’s friends and family help her when she was feeling overwhelmed?

  • Personal Experiences: Can you think of a time when you felt like Mei, with big emotions that seemed to take over?


Coco: An Inspiring Journey to Understand Death, Dying, and Grief

Death, dying, and grief are profound topics—ones that even adults struggle to talk about or understand. Researchers have long explained how this can be even more difficult for children, who are still coming to terms with what it means to be human and the realities of life and loss. Luckily, "Coco" (rated PG) provides an ideal opportunity to educate children about death. Its focus on family, remembrance, and honouring those who have passed away offers a wholesome way to approach these profound topics.


Ideas to Discuss:


  • Remembrance: How did the characters in the Land of the Dead feel about being remembered by their loved ones?

  • Personal Loss: Can you think of a time when you felt sad because someone you loved was no longer around?

  • Honoring Memories: What did Miguel do to honor his great-grandfather and keep his memory alive?


By using movies as a springboard, parents can create a safe and fun space for children to discuss their feelings, which studies  show to be an important aspect in making a child feel emotionally safe. With something as simple as a movie night, parents can guide their children gently through important life lessons—ensuring they don’t have to come to terms with life's big emotions on their own.


Navigating difficult conversations with children about mental health and mortality can be daunting for parents, but a well-chosen family movie night can provide a gentle and engaging way to broach these sensitive topics. Films like Orion and the Dark, Inside Out, Turning Red, and Coco can help parents initiate meaningful discussions about fear, emotions, mental health, and death. These movies can empower children to understand and express their feelings, fostering emotional intelligence and critical thinking.



ABOUT PRUE LONGSTAFF, COUNSELLOR Prue Longstaff, a mental health specialist and registered counsellor based in Mansfield, Victoria, is a member of the Mental Health Academy, an organisation that ensures ongoing professional development. Additionally, she is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Using the most recent evidence-based research and her professional connections with top organisations such as the Australian Institute of Family Services (AIFS), Emerging Minds, Black Dog Institute, Melbourne University's Tuning into Teens (TINT) program, and many more, Prue offers her practice a wealth of experience and knowledge. Prue's sympathetic manner and customised interventions demonstrate her unwavering dedication to promoting clients' wellbeing. Prue's work is informed by a profound comprehension of the distinct obstacles encountered by her clients, guaranteeing that her clients have the necessary care and support to flourish.






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