Mental Health for Parents & Educators
A child’s healthy development depends on their parents—and other caregivers who act in the role of parents—who serve as their first sources of support in becoming independent and leading healthy and successful lives.
Self-Care
Taking care of yourself or others can look different for everyone, and the type of support you need depends on where you at on the spectrum of mental health.
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Especially for parents and educators, taking care of yourself often requires slowing down and finding ways to rejuvenate.
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​Check out these culturally relevant mental health resources for: Hispanic/Latine, Indigenous/Native, Black, and Asian American/Pacific Islanders.
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Trauma is a stressful event that makes a person fear for their or other people's life or safety. Learn more.
Coping with Stress
We all experience different levels of stress throughout our lives. Stress in young people doesn't always look like stress in adults. Together, young people and their parents/caregivers can learn to spot the signs of excessive stress and ways to manage it.
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The ability to thrive despite challenges arises from the skills of resilience.
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Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation and background.
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Self-harm and self-injury are sometimes used as a way to release painful emotions. Find more information here.
Healthy Boundaries
Personal boundaries are limits that help to protect the physical and emotional space in all kinds of relationships. Boundaries help everyone to feel safe and in control of their surroundings, noticing and asking what each person is or isn't comfortable with, and communicating those boundaries to others. Setting boundaries isn't always easy. But it's essential for developing strong friendships and dating relationships that are respectful, supportive, and healthy.
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Setting healthy boundaries can look like labeling and naming feelings, limiting time spent on social media, taking a break from the things that cause stress, and communicating about needs and expectations. Schools play a critical role in promoting student health and development, helping students feel more connected to their community.
Bullying and unhealthy relationships have big impacts on mental health.
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The majority of LGBTQ+ youth (52%) report being bullied in person or electronically. The Strong Family Alliance and the Family Acceptance Project has resources and connections to support LGBTQ+ lives and preserve families by supporting parents of children coming out. PFLAG offers caring, just, and affirming resources for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
Crisis Support
Local resources for when you or someone you know are in crisis or need mental health support. Professional support can be very helpful; talk to your Primary Care Provider or a local Therapist at any point in your mental health journey.
School-based health services (SBHS) are intended to increase access to quality health care and lower many of the barriers students commonly face.
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
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Thoughts of suicide
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Mental health or substance use crises
YouthLine is a free teen-to-teen crisis support and help line. The Crisis Text Line is another free resource that connects directly to a Crisis Counselor.
The Trevor Project has trained counselors that understand the challenges LGBTQ+ young people face and are available for support 24/7.
Grief & Healing
Everyone grieves in their own unique way; there is no “right way” to grieve.
How kids cope with loss depends on things like their age, how close they felt to the person who died, and the support they receive. Use this resource for helping children cope after a traumatic event.
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If you are looking for ways to understand and help a child through the grieving process, check out these resources from the Dougy Center. Remember to take care of yourself during the grieving process as well.
If you're looking for more specific resources, check out: books about suicide grief, this LGBTQ+ article on grief support, and resources on helping children through grieving and traumatic events.