INDIANA – WBIW has taken an in-depth look into the Surgeon General’s Advisory that offers recommendations for supporting the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults.
Mental health affects every aspect of our lives: how we feel about ourselves and the world; solve problems, cope with stress, and overcome challenges; build relationships and connect with others; and perform in school, at work, and throughout life. Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, and is an essential component of overall health, according to Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. Vice Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service Surgeon General of the United States.
Families and caregivers play a critical role in providing safe, stable, and nurturing environments and
relationships young people need to thrive.
Below are recommendations for how families and caregivers can engage with children and youth on mental health topics, help them become more resilient, and address emerging mental health challenges:
Be the best role model you can be for young people by taking care of your own mental and physical health. Young people often learn behaviors and habits from what they see around them. You can model good habits by talking to children about the importance of mental health, seeking help when you need it, and showing positive ways you deal with stress so children learn from you. Additional ways to take care of your own mental health include taking breaks, getting enough sleep, exercising, eating balanced meals, maintaining regular routines, obtaining health insurance coverage, staying connected with family and friends, and taking time to unplug from technology or social media.
Help children and youth develop strong, safe, and stable relationships with you and other supportive adults. Research shows that the most important thing a child needs to be resilient is a stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult. Spend time with children on activities that are meaningful to them, show them love and acceptance, praise them for the things they do well, listen to them, and communicate openly about their feelings. Encourage children to ask for help and connect them with other adults who can serve as mentors.
Encourage children and youth to build healthy social relationships with peers. This can be done through self-directed play and structured activities such as school, after-school programs, sports, and volunteering.126 Since peers can play a major role (both positive and negative) in children’s development, it’s important to help children learn how to deal with peer pressure. Have open conversations with your child about their values and teach them to be confident and comfortable in expressing their needs and boundaries.
Do your best to provide children and youth with a supportive, stable, and predictable home and neighborhood environment. A lot may be outside of your control, and there will be trial and error as you figure out what works best for your child. That said, try to help children stick to a regular and predictable daily schedule, such as regular dinnertime and bedtime. Be thoughtful about whether and how to discuss stressful topics such as financial and marital problems. The American Psychological Association offers tips on how to talk with your child about difficult topics. It’s also important to minimize children’s exposure to violence, which puts them at risk of mental health and substance use challenges.
Try to minimize negative influences and behaviors in young people’s lives. Talk to children early about the risks of alcohol and other drugs, both short-term (such as car crashes and other accidents) and long-term (such as reduced cognitive abilities). The earlier a child or adolescent begins using substances, the greater their chances of developing substance use problems. Mental health and substance use problems can also occur at the same time. For example, some young people struggling with stress or difficult feelings turn to alcohol or drug use. And alcohol and other drugs can also affect mental health, for example by altering mood or energy levels.
Ensure children and youth have regular check-ups with a pediatrician, family doctor, or other health care professional. Health care professionals can help you monitor your children’s health, give you advice on how to prevent problems, and diagnose and treat physical and mental illnesses. Obtaining health insurance coverage for your children can help. To learn more about enrolling in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or a Marketplace plan, go to HealthCare.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov.
Look out for warning signs of distress, and seek help when needed. Signs of distress in children can show up in a number of ways, such as irritability, anger, withdrawal, and other changes in their thoughts, appearance, performance at school, sleeping or eating patterns, or other behaviors.) If you notice concerning changes in your child, let them know you’re there and ready to support them however they need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help by talking to a doctor, nurse, or other professional or looking into other available resources in your community. For example, schools often have counseling services and additional accommodations (e.g., for students enrolled in special education programs).
Minimize children’s access to means of self-harm, including firearms and prescription medications. Dispose of unused or expired prescriptions and keep medications out of reach for children and youth. If you choose to keep firearms in the home, ensure that they are stored safely: unloaded and locked up (e.g., in a lockbox or safe). Having firearms in the home increases the likelihood of firearm-related death. In fact, firearms are by far the most lethal means of suicide: 90% of attempted suicides with a firearm result in death, compared to less than 10% of attempted suicides overall.
Be attentive to how children and youth spend time online. Digital technology can help young people connect with friends and family, learn about current events, express themselves, and access telehealth and other resources.138 At the same time, children can have negative experiences online, such as being bullied, finding harmful information, and negatively comparing themselves to others.
Technology and youth mental health: Questions for families to consider
Time
- How much time is my child spending online? Is it taking away from healthy offline activities, such as exercising, seeing friends, reading, and sleeping?
- Are there healthy limits I can set on my child’s use of technology, such as limiting screen time to specific times of the day or week, or limiting certain kinds of uses?
Content
- Am I aware of what devices and content my child has access to?
- Is my child getting something meaningful and constructive out of content they are looking at, creating, or sharing? How do I know?
- Are there healthier ways my child could engage online? (Examples: Finding meal recipes, researching options for a family outing, video chatting with a relative, etc.)
- Is being online riskier for my child than for some other children? For example, does my child have a mental health condition that might make them react more strongly to certain kinds of stressful or emotional content?
Impact
- How does my child feel about the time they spend online?
- Is my child engaging because they want to, or because they feel like they have to?
- How can I create space for open conversations with my child about their experiences online?
- How do I feel about my own use of technology? Can I be a better role model for my child?
Be a voice for mental health in your community. There are many ways to do this, from talking openly with friends and family about the importance of mental health to going to the school board meetings or a town hall, to volunteering with an advocacy group, to promoting greater funding and awareness of mental health programs in schools and local organizations, such as churches, libraries, parks, and recreation, or sports teams.
