Children's Mental Health

As a parent, guardian, or caregiver, it’s crucial to understand the difference between discipline and abuse. Effective discipline teaches children right from wrong, but it's essential to recognize when discipline crosses the line into abuse, which can have lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects on children. Learn ways to implement effective discipline into the home that is calm, consistent, and intentional, not humiliating or hurtful.

Self-Harm can be a difficult subject to talk about, but it's important parents and caretakers are educated on what it is, signs to look for, and the difference between self-harm and suicidal ideation. 

You’ve taken the first big step into understanding your child’s mental health. With a diagnosis of depression by a mental health professional, it may not feel like a “congratulatory” moment, but it’s an action you and your child should be proud of – asking for help is the first step in any healing journey. After the diagnosis, it’s key to create a safe, consistent, and supportive home that fosters healing and growth. Here are some actions you can take to start the process. 

Love and kindness should go hand in hand, and random acts of kindness are scientifically proven to positively impact yourself and those around you. Making the choice to be kind and focusing on compassion, not just for others but for yourself, can have a huge impact on mental health.

How can hope improve mental health? Studies on the science of hope began in the 1980s, and it was determined that hope is an action-oriented skill that can be learned, versus just something that you “feel.” In order to cultivate positive change in ourselves, in others, or society at large, restoring hope is the vital first step.

When done with real intent and thoughtfulness, talking about current events provides the opportunity to help children develop critical thinking skills, as well as provides the chance to educate and encourage appropriate action in terms of diversity, ending racism and supporting community.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At Nexus Family Healing, we serve youth and families who have often either been victims of and/or witnessed domestic violence. For a parent/caregiver who was the victim of intimate partner violence, navigating how to handle it with your children can be extremely tough.

The swift approach of Autumn and the ending of summer can be a brutal adjustment. Days are short and cold, evenings are dark and long, and these changes in the weather can bring on symptoms of Seasonal Depressive Disorder. Because of this, it’s important to find enjoyable ways to combat these symptoms and protect your mental health. Here are a few suggestions to help you get excited for the changing season, all while supporting your mental health.

As the school year is now in full swing, the typical stressors that come up for kids and every 4 years, a new challenge is occurring in lunchrooms, hallways and even on the playgrounds - the U.S. presidential election. We expect children are hearing all sorts of spirited opinions about this presidential race, leading to a new set of emotional stressors for our kids. So, how do we help our youth navigate this newly elevated issue and learn how to handle conversations that can become uncomfortable? 

As a family responder, working with youth who struggle with suicidality (deliberately hurting oneself with an intent to die) is a routine part of my job. Parents are often not provided with the same skill set as mental health professionals, yet they are the “first responders” when it comes to their child’s mental health. In my years working with suicidal youth and their families, I’ve noticed trends in the information I share with parents.