The psychological crisis in children and adolescents: How parents can help

We are in the midst of a pediatric mental health crisis – and parents must act.

In recent years, the pandemic has not only killed hundreds of thousands; it has also locked us down, cut off social contacts, taken parents out of work and children out of school. The consequences were enormous. And one of those consequences is that we are seeing alarming levels of anxiety and depression in our children and teenagers.

A national emergency among children and young people

In fall 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, along with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children's Hospital Association, declared a national child and adolescent mental health emergency. They called for more funding for mental health resources as well as other measures including greater integration of mental health care into schools and primary care, more community-based systems to connect people with mental health programs, strategies to increase the number of mental health care providers and ensuring that there is insurance coverage for mental health care.

All of this is necessary and efforts to ensure this will continue. But as we work to build mental health systems, there are things parents can do to help their children through this crisis.

Mental health is just as important as physical health

This is what we need to understand above all else. If a child has a fever or a persistent cough, the parents react - they pay attention and get help. But when a child appears sad, irritable, or less interested in activities they once enjoyed, they tend to view it as a phase or teenage angst or something else that can be ignored. The mental health of our children is critically important. Mental health not only impacts physical health, but untreated mental health problems affect learning, socialization, self-esteem, and other important aspects of child development that can have lifelong effects. And for some children, untreated mental health problems lead to suicide.

So pay attention and take what you see seriously. If your child shows signs of anxiety or depression, contact your doctor. Don't postpone it. If your child talks about harming themselves or others, get help immediately, such as going to the local emergency room. In this situation, it is better to overreact than to underreact.

Create communication rituals and safe spaces for discussion

It's easy to lose connection with our children, especially our teenagers. Whether it's family dinner, family game night, conversation on the drive to school, or a nightly check-in before bed, it's important to have regular times to ask open-ended questions and listen to your children.

Make sure your child has free time

We all need this, and children especially need it. Make sure they are not over-scheduled; Make sure they have time to do things they enjoy.

Promote healthy media habits

One of the things kids enjoy these days is being on their devices, which can be fun and connect them with friends, but can also contribute to mental health issues. Talk to your child about how they use media. Common Sense Media provides a wealth of useful information.

Make sure your child gets enough sleep – and some exercise

Both are very important for mental health as well as physical health. Here are tips to help your child get the sleep they need. And even short workouts can reduce anxiety.

Stay in touch with teachers, coaches, and other adults in your child's life

Not only can they have the information you need about your child, but they can also play an important supportive role. Open lines of communication with them can make a difference – and help create the community we all need, especially now.

Try to make your home a judgment-free safe haven

That doesn't mean you can't and shouldn't have expectations around behavior or grades. But you can have expectations without judgment; You can and should let your child know that you love them no matter what, that they can say what they feel, and that you will always help them. Do your best to listen more than you speak; be empathetic and forgive. To say this sincerely, you must be empathetic and forgiving towards everyone, including yourself.

Take care of your own mental health

Children pay more attention to what their parents do than what they say. If you're clearly struggling with anxiety or depression and aren't doing anything about it, it sends the wrong message to your children. It also makes it hard to be a good parent.

If we take care of each other and ourselves, we can weather this storm.

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