4 Strategies for Helping Kids Manage Their Mental Health
July 22, 2020
Categories: Children's, Mental Health & Well-Being
While stress, anxiety and depression are topics most people think of as adult issues, the truth is that kids experience mental health problems, too. Recognizing when your kids are feeling stressed, numb or sad can help parents address problems before they lead to longer-term, chronic behavioral health problems like anxiety and depression.
One of our goals as behavioral health professionals is to remind parents that mental health is just as important as physical health, and there’s a great deal of data to support that claim.
That’s why when you notice behavioral changes, it’s critical to address them. Just like you’d never ignore an infection, illness or injury, it’s important not to ignore the common signs that your children may be struggling emotionally.
How Stress Manifests in Children
Because kids often don’t know how to communicate what they’re feeling or advocate for themselves, you’ll have to keep an eye on their behavior to recognize when stress or anxiety are getting the best of them.
5 Common Signs of Stress in Kids/Teens
Some things to look out for are many of the same coping strategies adults use. Here are a few of the most common signs of stress in kids and teens:
- Eating too much or too little.
- Sleeping too much or too little.
- Overusing social media/screen time.
- Avoiding people/interaction altogether.
- Mood changes such as being overly irritable or not being able to get along with others.
We call these “maladaptive” coping mechanisms because they aren’t healthy. Sadly, due to COVID-19, many of the healthier strategies such as spending time with friends, sports activities or hobbies have all been halted. This makes it more important to be in tune with your kids’ mental health and to offer healthier strategies instead.
5 Strategies to Help Kids Manage Their Mental Health
If you’re worried that your child is struggling emotionally, the good news is there are things you can do before the problems escalate. Here is the advice I routinely give to parents who are concerned about their kids’ mental health.
#1 – Make sure the adults are on the same page.
Oftentimes, one parent will be the first to notice something may seem a little “off,” such as trouble sleeping, more tantrums or outbursts, regressive behaviors, clinginess or withdrawn behaviors. I always recommend, first, that this parent have a discussion with any other adult caregivers – whether it’s an in-house spouse, a co-parent in another home, or even a grandparent or other caregiver. Even if they’re not noticing the same signs, make sure they’re on board with addressing the potential issues that have been identified. Working together as adults, make a plan for how to handle next steps, so you’re a unified front all focused on getting your child any needed support.
#2 – Set limits to screen time.
Parents should always set limits to screen time for children, and that is particularly important when it comes to news stories that can be overwhelming. We all have endless access to information at our fingertips these days, but it is possible to overdo it. Being informed is an important part of being a global citizen, but there has to be a limit to how much your children, and you, can take in at one time to protect your mental health. It is also a good idea to watch the news or read stories about major conflicts with your children to be there should they have questions or you start to notice concerning behavior resulting from over indulging in the news.
#3 – Have an open conversation with your child.
After watching upsetting news, it is important to talk with your children about what they have absorbed. Listen to their concerns and approach the conversation in a supportive, loving way. Let them know that is okay to feel overwhelmed, anxious or scared. It is also important to discuss with them where you can get reliable information regarding recent events. And, of course, remind them it is okay to take a break and step away from these topics when needed.
#4 – Focus on who’s helping.
In addition to watching the news with your children, you should focus on positives actions people are taking in response to various crises. Offer your children reassurance that the world is not a hopeless place. Point out those who are helping, such as relief organizations, charitable foundations, other countries and even local businesses and individuals. Consider brainstorming ways your family can help, so children understand that there is a lot of good in the world and things they, too, can do to make a difference.
#5 – Offer help and support.
Some kids can get the support they need from their parents to get through difficult, stressful times – while others may need some professional support. Your pediatrician can offer advice or can help connect you to a behavioral health professional as needed.
If you are truly concerned for your child’s emotional well-being, getting professional help should NOT be left for the child to decide. You can expect to get some push-back, but just as you wouldn’t allow them to stay away from a doctor during a medical emergency – this is a decision best left up to the parents.
Staggering Stats on Mental Health in Kids
- As many as 1 in 5 children in the US suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder, with 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness beginning by age 14 and 75% by age 24. 1, 2
- According to the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, 49% of children under age 18 with a mental health disorder did not receive needed treatment or counseling from a mental health professional. 3
- CDC research found that mental health emergencies grew by 24% for children ages 5-11 years and 31% for children ages 12-17 years. ED visits for suspected suicide attempts rose by nearly 51% among girls ages 12-17 years in early 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.
Resources
- Any Mental Illness (AMI) Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2019, at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtmll
- Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2005;62(6):617-27.
- Whitney DG, Peterson MD. US national and state-level prevalence of mental health disorders and disparities of mental health care use in children. JAMA Pediatrics. 2019. Advance online publication.
- Kalb LG, Stapp EK, Ballard ED, Holingue C, Keefer A, Riley A. Trends in psychiatric emergency department visits among youth and young adults in the US. Pediatrics. 2019. Advance online publication.
- Leeb, R T. (2020) Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged 18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 1–October 17, 2020 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
WakeMed Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
WakeMed offers a wide range of pediatric behavioral health services. For more information, please contact your child’s pediatrician to discuss your concerns and get connected to an expert. If you need immediate assistance for your child, here are some local crisis resources.
Wake County Crisis and Assessment Services
107 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 | 919-250-1260
Wake Behavioral Health Urgent Care
319 Chapanoke Road, Ste. 120, Raleigh, NC 27603 | 919-703-2845
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line : Text the word TALK to 741741
About Jessica Tomasula, PhD
Dr. Jessica Tomasula is a licensed pediatric psychologist and manager of behavioral health services at WakeMed Children’s. She provides clinical care to patients and families in WakeMed Children’s Pediatric Weight Management & Adolescent Bariatric Surgery programs.
Dr. Tomasula’s professional interests include family-based behavioral interventions for health and wellness, parent training, sleep hygiene, adolescent suicide prevention, and pediatric integrated care.
Learn more about Dr. Tomasula and request an appointment here.