Finding support for your child’s mental health can feel overwhelming, but it’s a crucial step toward ensuring their well-being now and in the future. Providing timely support is key when a child is struggling with emotions, behaviors, or relationships. These challenges can impact your child’s learning, relationships, and even physical health. This resource is designed to help you understand the types of mental health support available and how to choose the right kind of care for your child.

Mental health support is not “one-size-fits-all.” Every child’s needs are different, and the level of care required can vary widely. Some children might benefit from weekly therapy sessions, while others may find that joining a sports team or social group gives them the support they need. Being surrounded by people who love them is sometimes the best kind of support. This could be family or a friend group. Here’s a breakdown of some key forms of professional support:

• Psychotherapy: This is often the first step in mental health support. A trained therapist can help your child talk through their feelings, explore their thoughts, and find ways to cope with their struggles. Therapists might have different ways of working with your child, for example, using play therapy or art therapy.
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• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on helping your child recognize and change unhelpful thought patterns that might be causing stress or anxiety. This practical approach can teach them specific skills for managing tough situations. Another related therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), also focuses on teaching coping skills and helps manage intense emotions.
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• Family Therapy: This type of therapy involves the whole family and can improve how everyone communicates and supports one another. It’s beneficial if the issues your child faces affect the entire family.
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• Group Therapy: Group therapy involves sessions with peers experiencing similar issues. This can help your child realize they are not alone and can build social skills in a supportive setting.
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• Medication: Sometimes, a psychiatrist or healthcare professional may recommend medication to help manage conditions like anxiety, ADHD, or depression. Medication is often used alongside other forms of therapy.
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• Social Support & Community Engagement: Structured activities like sports, art classes, or clubs can help reduce feelings of isolation and boost your child’s confidence. Being part of a group activity offers a sense of belonging and can be an excellent support for your child.

When choosing the right support, remember that it’s essential to find what best fits your child’s unique needs.

Finding the right therapist can be as important as choosing the type of therapy. Here are some tips to help you decide:

• Values Alignment: Look for a counselor whose approach aligns with your family’s values. Do they understand your child’s needs and respect your family’s culture and goals?
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• Involvement of the Family: Consider whether the therapist will include you in the process, either through family therapy sessions or regular check-ins. Your involvement can make a big difference in helping your child feel supported.
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• Concrete Skills and Progress: Ask the therapist about the specific skills they will teach your child. Look for progress and ask the therapist to share how they plan to help your child develop coping...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, it's natural to worry about your child’s well-being. With all the challenges children face today—like school stress, peer pressure, and social media—knowing when something is not okay with their mental health can be tough. This resource will help you recognize signs of trouble, understand when to worry, and learn how to prevent suicide by having open conversations and knowing what to do in difficult situations.

It’s normal for children to have mood swings or be upset at times, especially as they grow and change. However, there are some signs that may indicate a bigger issue, like anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Children and teens go through different stages of emotional and behavioral development, so mental health issues can show up differently depending on their age. Here's what to watch for in each stage:

In this age group, children are just beginning to develop social skills, build friendships, and manage their emotions. It’s normal for younger children to have occasional outbursts, but watch for:

• Excessive clinginess or fear: It’s normal for children to want comfort from their parents, but extreme or prolonged separation anxiety can signal deeper distress. This might show up as constantly needing to be close, prolonged difficulty at drop-off, distress even with a brief separation, or difficulty sleeping alone.
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• Frequent temper tantrums: While tantrums are common in younger children, having them regularly at this age—especially if they’re intense or long-lasting—could indicate emotional struggles.
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• Withdrawing from play: If your child loses interest in playing with friends, engaging in hobbies, or participating in fun activities they used to enjoy, it might be a sign of anxiety or depression.
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• Physical complaints without a clear cause: Frequent headaches, stomachaches, or other physical issues that don’t seem to have a medical explanation could be a child’s way of expressing emotional pain.
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• Trouble concentrating or completing tasks: Difficulty focusing on schoolwork, constant daydreaming, or falling behind in academic performance could point to attention issues or emotional distress.

If you notice any of these behaviors lasting for more than a few weeks, having a conversation with your child or a healthcare provider may be helpful.

Children/teens ages 11-14 experience many emotional ups and downs as they navigate puberty, peer pressure, and school changes. But some signs can suggest more serious mental health concerns, such as:

• Significant mood swings: Hormones can cause irritability, but extreme or constant mood swings that disrupt daily life might signal anxiety or depression.
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• Social isolation: If your child/teen starts withdrawing from friends or avoids social activities, this could be a red flag, especially if they previously enjoyed these interactions.
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• Changes in school performance: A sudden drop in grades, difficulty focusing, or a lack of interest in school could mean your child/teen is struggling emotionally.
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• Risky or defiant behavior: This could include sneaking out, breaking rules, or engaging in unsafe activities. While pushing boundaries is normal at this age, extreme defiance may be a sign of distress.
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• Body image issues or eating changes: Early teens may develop unhealthy views of their bodies, leading to disordered eating or fixation on weight or appearance. Sudden changes in appetite or weight are important

Parenting can feel overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to supporting your child’s mental health. But here’s the good news: as their parent or someone in a parenting role, you are uniquely qualified to help them navigate these challenges and build resilience. You may not always have all the answers, and that’s okay. Understanding some key concepts and practicing a few strategies can make a big difference in your child’s mental and emotional well-being.

Struggling with mental health symptoms is a normal part of being human. It’s common to feel sad, anxious, or overwhelmed at times. These feelings only become a concern when they’re too intense or difficult to manage without help. Your child might not always know how to handle these big feelings on their own, and that’s where you come in. As their parent, you can help them figure out what’s going on and how to deal with it in healthy ways.

A concept called coregulation can be extremely helpful in understanding how to help your child. Everyone has what’s called a window of tolerance. This is the zone where we feel calm and able to think clearly. When we’re outside this window—feeling overwhelmed or shutting down—it can lead to behaviors like tantrums, yelling, or withdrawal.

For children and teens, it’s especially hard to return to their window of tolerance on their own. They need a trusted adult to help them regulate their emotions, and that’s where coregulation comes in. As a parent, your calm presence can help soothe your child’s nervous system. Here are some ways you can practice coregulation:

• Stay calm even when your child is not.
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• Use a gentle voice and a steady tone.
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• Get down to their eye level or lower to help them feel safe.
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• Offer soothing strategies, like deep breathing or hugging.

When you practice coregulation, you teach your child how to manage their emotions over time.

Your child learns by watching you. If you want your child to handle stress well and care for their mental health, it’s important to model those behaviors yourself. That means taking care of your own well-being and showing your child what healthy coping looks like. The U.S. Surgeon General recently shared that parental stress is at an all-time high, which is why self-care is essential, not selfish.

Here are some self-care strategies you can use and model:

• Build a strong support system by staying connected with friends, family, or a community.
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• Get enough sleep - it’s crucial for your mood and energy levels.
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• Exercise regularly to reduce stress and boost your mental health.
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• Eat nutritious foods to fuel your body and mind.
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• Take breaks when you need them. Step away, breathe, and recharge.
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• Practice gratitude by looking for the positive moments in your day.

When your child sees you prioritizing your mental health, they learn that it’s important to care for themselves, too.

There will be times when you and your child have conflict – it’s just part of parenting. What matters most is how you handle it afterward. As the parent, it’s your responsibility to initiate the repair, even if your child was the one who started the argument.

After you both have had time to cool off, you might say something like:

“I know you were really angry just now and said some things you probably didn’t mean. Are you ready to talk about it, or...