If there's anything we've all learned from 2020, it's that it's important to take care of your mental health. October 10 is World Mental Health Day. As we take time to recognize all the ways mental illness touches people around the world, it's important to take a look at what's going on at home.
More families and schools are putting an emphasis on social-emotional learning, which is great news. It's important for us to develop children's understanding of mental health and mental illness from an early age. A lot of that work happens at home, and that feels like a big responsibility.
Those conversations don't come naturally or easily to every family, however. A lot of people feel out of their depth when it comes to communicating these important subjects to their children. Thankfully, there are many tools that can help you address issues of mental health and mental illness with children.
HappiMe for Young People
HappiMe for Young People is an app that helps kids recenter themselves in positivity. It walks them through four steps: Learn, Recognize, Deal With Your Emotions, and Replace. It also helps kids separate themselves from their thoughts through the use of characters. The app is sort of an all-in-one activity center with a focus on positive thoughts and mental well-being.
'On Our Sleeves' Conversation Starters
The On Our Sleeves movement launched on World Mental Health Day two years ago. Its mission is to break the silence surrounding children's mental health matters. The On Our Sleeves website features some conversation starters to help start simple conversations that normalize talking about feelings, thoughts, and experiences.
PFSA's 'Helping Children Understand Mental Illness' Guide
For children living with a parent coping with mental illness, it can be confusing and sometimes embarrassing. Open up the conversation around those feelings and more with the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance's guide, "Helping Children Understand Mental Illness."
HealthyPlace
HealthyPlace aims to help families of those with various mental illnesses with the information they need to consider about those conditions. It also discusses treatment options, from medications to therapies and more. Aside from the organization's helpful facts, it also has blogs that offer more insight into what life with these conditions can be like.
'Smiling Mind' Web and App
Smiling Mind is an app that puts daily mindfulness and meditation practices in your child's hands. It was developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to children. You can even set up the app to work through your smart home device.
Mylemarks
Mylemarks offers free therapy worksheets for kids and teens on a number of subjects. The worksheets cover everything from healthy relationships to diversity and identity and more. Mylemarks also offers games, videos, and classroom resources.
The 'Calm' App
The Calm app has been a big hit with adults, but it has tools for kids as well! As part of the regular app, the Calm Kids section includes meditations, focus sessions, emotions series, and study breaks. There are even 30 sleep stories for children ranging in age from 3 to 18.
Embrace Mental Health
Embrace Mental Health approaches conversations about mental health from a multicultural perspective, which can be extremely helpful in households where cultural norms impede these conversations. The website provides crucial information in a number of languages to increase accessibility.
HeretoHelp Family Toolkit
The HeretoHelp project offers a toolkit for the whole family to discuss mental health and substance abuse together. It teaches about the conditions, as well as how they can impact every member of a family. The combination of education and support can make a big difference for many families.
One in Five Minds Screening Tools
Sometimes, parents may be concerned that their children are struggling with their mental health. These free screening tools help you better understand what symptoms may be pointing toward. Once you have an idea, you can talk to your child and a doctor to follow up.
