How to support your child's mental health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

It is 31 days dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental health issues such as depression, or anxiety. It is the perfect time of year to build your family’s mental health toolbox, learn stress management techniques or help children identify their own challenging emotions. The more comfortable you are openly discussing feelings, the easier it is for young people to identify them .

Mental health in children includes their emotions and their behaviors in daily life. The most common issues seen in young children are ADHD, depression, behavioral problems, and anxiety, according to the CDC. In adolescents:

These numbers are quite alarming to parents and schools. The rates have gone up significantly over the last five years, with the COVID isolation and social media being the top causes.

How do you recognize anxiety in children?

• Being very afraid when away from parents
• Having specific fears about specific things or situations
• Fear of school or situations with people (social anxiety)
• Concerns about the future
• Having repeated episodes of sudden and unexplained intense fear. This often included heart racings, difficulty breathing, and feeling dizzy or weak (panic attacks)
• It can also make people irritable or angry. There may be trouble sleeping, fatigue, headache, or stomach pain. 

How do you recognize depression in children?

• Sad or bad mood
• Self-critical statements
• Not enjoying activities they used to enjoy
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
• Body aches or pains 

In our KidShape workshops, we give young people tools to become aware of the emotions they are experiencing. Our programs emphasize that mental and physical health are related. For anxiety, we use numerous stress management techniques including progressive relaxation and deep breathing. For sadness, we teach ways for self-care, such as art or music.

 Our children need to feel safe to express their emotions.

 Creating a home with open communications, family meals, and fun physical activities together can create a healthy lifestyle.