Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health: What Every Parent and Guardian Should Know

Every parent and guardian knows how important their child’s physical health is. However, mental and emotional well-being are just as crucial.

To help support the kids in your life, Kristen Hoben, program manager of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital’s Weller Health Education program (which partners with schools to provide preventive health education for students across the region), and Thespina Godshalk, director of the Children’s Hospital’s School-Based Behavioral Health program (which provides mental health support to students in school districts throughout the region), share the most important things adults should know about children’s mental health:

Children experiencing depression or anxiety may:

• Eat and/or sleep less or more than usual
• Experience a decline in grades
• Isolate from people they used to spend time with
• Begin to neglect their self-care/hygiene
• Self-harm
• Show changes in behavior or mood
• Start abusing alcohol or drugs
• Stop participating in activities they previously enjoyed

“While it’s important to look for these behaviors, being proactive is just as important,” Godshalk says.

• Avoid the stress of an overloaded schedule. Be mindful of your child’s participation in extracurricular activities.  
• Consider how you discuss mental health in your home – making negative comments could keep your child from opening up to you.
• Educate your child on common signs of anxiety and depression so they can recognize them.
• Encourage your child to talk to you, or another trusted adult, about how they are feeling in whatever format they want (in person, through texting, etc.).
• Make sure your child gets adequate/quality sleep and has a balanced/healthy diet.

• Don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions, such as if they are thinking of hurting or killing themselves. While this can be uncomfortable, it will help you determine next steps.
• Thank them for telling you and acknowledge that it must be difficult to share.
• Acknowledge and validate their feelings.
• Be aware of potentially dangerous items in your home (such as firearms or medications) and restrict their access to them.

“If your child needs to be admitted to the hospital or start taking medication, let them know there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Hoben says. “Those two resources are tools for getting them through a difficult time, and they aren’t shameful in any way.”

If your child shares that they are having suicidal thoughts, take them to your closest emergency department or call or text the 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

If your child is experiencing less urgent mental health concerns, look into outpatient behavioral health care options.

“If you need help finding support for your child, you can reach out to their primary care physician, their school or your insurance company,” Godshalk says. “Be sure to let your child know that you are working on getting them the proper support.”