Children's Mental Health

February is National Library Lover’s month, so we asked our staff members at our different agencies what mental health books are their favorite for children. See their recommendations below and learn a little bit about how reading can positively impact your child’s mental health and overall development! 

We asked our staff members which mental health books are their favorite for children. Our Mental Health Books for Children includes their recommendations as well as facts on how reading can positively impact your child’s mental health and overall development.

My four-year old is developmentally delayed and has had some aggressive behaviors in the past. We've been told by professionals that he might be on the spectrum, but his current behavior is an abrupt departure from the past because it's very frequent and the sessions are longer too. Although we already did so, we plan on getting him tested again for bipolar personality disorder, and autism. We are in a crisis. What can we do?

A list of ideas for finding an item or a gesture to express gratitude to a loved one.

A list of activities to get you and your family started on naming what you are thankful for. You can get as creative as you want with these or keep it simple.

A fun example of the science behind gratitude, explaining why it’s important and how it impacts our brains and helps us build resilience.

When you see or experience a child or teen acting out, what is often your first thought? For most, that first reactionary thought is not one of empathy nor is it thinking about the deeper meaning behind the behavior. If you take a step back and search to understand why a child may be having a certain “undesirable” attitude or outburst, it can solve the problem in a faster, friendlier, and less stressful way.

Can you recommend a particular type of hospital that can help my daughter? She has a long history of experiencing emotional trauma including having two stillborn children. She seemed to shift from PTSD to Schizophrenia, but she refuses help. I cannot deal with this any longer; I am feeling tired and drained and I need to get her the help she needs to get over her trauma.

It feels like the last three years have seen an uptick in anxiety, especially for children. This time has been scary for adults, let alone developing children who are just beginning to learn and explore the world outside of their home. With all these recent stressors, how can we help keep kids feeling safe and secure in today’s world?  

Luke Spiegelhoff, Clinical Director at Nexus-FACTS, joined KSTP's Minnesota Live to discuss suicide prevention for young adults as they move into adulthood.