Crisis Info
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Crisis Info
Sign Up for Emails- You can support children's mental health and create a healthy relationship by regularly talking with them about their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
- Establish routines for checking in with them when there are fewer distractions such as during car rides, family dinners or at bedtime.
- Share some of your thoughts and feelings to show children that all emotions are OK and discuss the coping strategies you use.
- Encourage children to share by asking open-ended questions about various topics, not just emotions or behaviors. If children don't want to talk, respect their space and try again later.
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Our mental health experts have created free, easy-to-use resources around kids' mental health.
Kids' Mental Health Starts with Us
We each have the power to support the mental health of the kids in our lives. We can do it – together. Check out our free tools and resources. Learn where to start, how to build your skills and what to do if you’re worried.
And sign up for our weekly e-newsletter to get more information on supporting kids’ mental health.
Where to Start
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Starting the Conversation with Kids
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Keeping the Conversation Going
- Sometimes the way we respond to kids sharing something can make them stop talking. Keep conversations going by staying calm and using open, interested body language to show you are listening.
- Let children lead the conversation and use prompts like, "Tell me more about that" rather than asking a lot of questions.
- Practice stating what you heard your child say to show you understand and encourage further sharing.
- Try to assure them that their feelings are OK. If they get upset or the conversation is difficult, take a break.
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Naming Emotions
- Emotion regulation is a valuable life skill that can be taught from birth and includes naming, noticing, expressing and coping with emotions.
- Children start distinguishing major emotions like anger, fear, sadness, and happiness as early as 6 months old by watching faces, tone of voice and body language.
- As children grow, they learn more specific and subtle emotions (like frustration or joy), and the differences between similar emotions (like happiness, contentment and pride).
- Teaching children emotional language helps them express their feelings with words instead of through behaviors.
Responding to Bullying
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Bullying in Kids: What Parents Need to Know and How to Help
- Bullying is intentional harm that can be verbal, social or physical. Bullying can have negative mental health effects on the victim, the bully and witnesses.
- Talking with children about bullying can help them recognize it, know how to respond and think about trusted adults they can turn to for support.
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Cyberbullying - What Is It and How to Help Protect Kids
- Cyberbullying is hurtful, targeted behavior using digital platforms like social media, texts and games, with tactics like doxxing, catfishing and harassment.
- It differs from traditional bullying because it can be anonymous, can occur 24/7 and may leave a lasting digital trail that can spread rapidly.
- Cyberbullying can cause harm to mental health such as anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, academic issues and even suicidal thoughts.
- Warning signs include withdrawal, irritability, secrecy around devices and loss of interest in usual activities.
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10 Ways to Combat Bullying
- Adults can teach children empathy, kindness and how to deal with their emotions early on to prevent bullying.
- Conversations about bullying should happen before issues arise.
- Encourage children to be upstanders by including others, telling bullies to stop (if it’s safe) and getting help from adults.
- If a child is being bullied, strategies like ignoring, assertiveness, using the buddy system and partnering with the school can help.
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What if my Child Is Bullying Others?
- Bullying can stem from a child’s own emotional struggles, a lack of empathy, wanting control or past trauma. Children may also copy aggressive behavior they’ve seen at home, in school or in media.
- Kids who bully often face emotional challenges like low self-esteem, loneliness or depression, and are at higher risk for mental health concerns, including suicidal thoughts.
- Adults can support kids who bully others. Talk openly with your child and really listen. Show empathy in your own actions. Set clear and consistent rules. Work with teachers and schools to support positive behavior. Encourage healthy friendships and, when needed, reach out for professional help.
Preventing Bullying
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Kindness Benefits Children’s Mental Health
- Kindness can improve mental health by boosting mood, increasing feelings of belonging and reducing anxiety
- When kindness becomes a habit, it can increase a child’s self-confidence
- There are simple ways you can teach your child about acts of kindness
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Helping Kids Make Friends
Teaching your child social skills may help them make friends more easily. It’s a skill that they’ll use their entire lives - throughout childhood, the teenage years and adulthood.
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Why School Belonging Matters
- A sense of belonging at school helps children feel supported, respected and accepted, which is good for their mental health.
- Children who feel they belong are more engaged in schoolwork, perform better academically and are less likely to experience loneliness, anxiety and depression.
- Teachers can foster belonging by connecting individually with students, encouraging classroom connections and empowering students.
- Parents and caregivers can support school belonging by taking an interest in their child's school life and checking in regularly with the child about school.
When You're Worried
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When to Worry About Your Child's Mental Health
Children act up and sometimes have challenging behaviors. How can you tell if it’s a phase or a warning sign that needs help?
- What behaviors or emotions indicate a mental health concern
- Three steps you can take to review concerns you have
- How to seek help, if needed
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How to Find a Mental Health Provider
Finding a mental health provider can be really challenging. Here are tips on navigating the mental health care system.
- Finding a mental health professional for a child can be stressful
- Five suggestions of where to start looking
- Three ideas of questions to ask
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Anxiety in Children: What Is “Normal”?
- Feelings of anxiety and normal and does not mean a child has an anxiety disorder. Feeling anxious is a natural alarm system that alerts us to danger.
- Anxiety in children can motivate and protect them, like studying for a test or avoiding dangerous activities.
- Anxiety changes as kids develop, from "stranger danger" in young children to concerns about real-world dangers in school-aged children and social belonging in tweens and teens.
- There are warning signs of anxiety and anxiety disorders, including worrying about future events, avoiding activities, trouble sleeping or needing lots of reassurance.
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4 Ways to Encourage a Child Who Is Hard on Themselves
Being self-critical (hard on yourself) isn’t a problem for a child if it does not happen all the time. View four ways to encourage a child who is hard on themselves.
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What is Depression?
Depression can look different in children than it does in adults. What are the warning signs? And what should you do if it seems like a kid is depressed?
- Depression may show up as irritability, distractedness, withdrawal or hopelessness in children
- Physical signs of depression in children could look like headaches, stomach aches or fatigue
- Caregivers can take action if a child shows signs of depression
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