The Communities4Youth Difference
For Parents
Good mental health is as important as physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It also helps kids cope with life's challenges. If ignored, mental health problems can interfere with a students learning, development, relationships, and physical health.
What is mental health?
What do mental health struggles look like?
Mental health is a combination of our psychological, emotional, and social well-being, which affects how we think, feel, and act. When you are struggling with your mental health, you can experience stress, depression, or increase your risk for mental illness.
We all have mental health struggles sometimes when we are sad, fearful, stressed, confused, or experiencing a difficult time - which are typically short term mental health struggles.
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It's important to remember that mental health changes over time and mental health struggles are extremely common.
Some warning signs that someone is struggling with their mental health include a change in thoughts, behavior, or feelings that are:
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Intense (ups and downs that are longer or stronger than usual)
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Long-lasting (usually 2 weeks or more)
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Negatively impacting their day-to-day routines, relationships or responsibilities
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Mental Health Resources per Topic
Stress
Social Isolation
Body image and self-esteem
Abusive relationships
Coping with traumatic events
How you can help!
As a parent, you can help strengthen your kids mental health by doing simple things such as:
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Eating meals together
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Be a good listener
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Show affection
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Share a physical activity with them (walk, play, ski, ball, yoga, etc.)
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Help them get enough sleep
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Be a role model and share your feelings
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Slow down. Limit the number of activities you and your family engage in so you have quiet, recharging time.
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Encourage your kid to journal and get them 'out of their head'.
Fun activities to do with your family
Out of ideas? Here's some easy suggestions to spend quality time together as a family.
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Go on a weekend getaway
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Host board game nights
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Cook a meal together
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Work out together
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Talk about anything
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Read a book together
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Teach each other something
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Have a movie night
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Volunteer in the community
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Try new things
Show the people in your life exactly how much you care by spending time with them. Quality time is an easy and powerful way to connect with your loved ones in a simple and straightforward way.
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Want more help? Here are some toolkits you can use to learn more about mental health and start the conversation with your teen.
Get involved!
Communities for Youth would love your help! If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, advocate, sponsor or donor, your participation is welcome to help our youth in Idaho thrive! Contact us to get started.