May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Taking care of our mental health is important – for kids and adults! Here’s some information about mental health and how you can support your child’s mental well-being.
Mental Health vs. Mental Illness- These two terms are often used to describe the same thing but have different meanings.
Mental Health:
The state of your mental and emotional well-being
How well you are able to handle the demands and challenges of life, your relationships with others, and your view of yourself.
Mental Illness:
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood.
Mental illnesses can vary and may or may not affect a person's functioning
How Kids Can Improve Mental Health:
Spend time in nature
Spend time with loved ones
Do an activity they enjoy
Exercise
Do something to help someone
Get enough sleep
Try something new
Limit time spent on technology
How You Can Help:
Listen to your child – to the big things and the small things
Do something together that your child enjoys
Set and enforce boundaries around technology
Give your child meaningful praise
Don’t be afraid to seek professional help
Warning Signs to Look For:
Sudden changes in weight or appetite
Complaints of stomachache
Changes in sleeping habits
Becoming more isolated
Difficulty concentrating
I hope everyone has a great summer! See you in August!