NBC 5's five-part series, “Kids & Mental Health,” begins Monday, Feb. 15, and airs daily at 5 p.m.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll in so many ways, including the mental health of our children. Below is a list of resources to help families navigate this crisis. Do you have a resource to add? Email tips@nbcchicago.com.
GENERAL HEALTH
Kidshealth.org – "Doctor-reviewed advice on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioral topics — from before birth through the teen years.
Separate sections for parents, kids, and teens, each created with your questions in mind."
healthychildren.org – "Parenting website backed by 67,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults."
MENTAL HEALTH
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Health – The AACAP provides family resources, family guides, resource centers, youth resources, child and adolescent psychiatrist finder and facts for families.
Additional links from the AACAP
American Psychological Association - “The lives of children and teenagers can be complicated. Pressure from school, friends and parents can build to create an emotionally stressful environment, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits that continue into adulthood.”
Child Mind Institute - "The Child Mind Institute aims to empower you with the resources you need to make good decisions for your child. Whether you're investigating your concerns or researching a particular diagnosis, we offer the most current thinking from experts and the experience of families who've been through it."
Erika’s Lighthouse - “Understanding exactly what’s going on with your child, finding the right treatment, dealing with the schools, negotiating insurance issues – all are challenges that parents face when their child is suffering from depression. Our handbook is designed to help – with practical ideas written in an easy to read style, we are here to help you.”
Gabriel's Light - “We forward our mission to prevent youth suicide through outreach, programs, and funding related to each of our three pillars: Education, Cyber Safety, and Kindness Campaigns.”
National Mental Health Organization – An A-Z guide on mental health conditions, including general information, symptoms, treatments and resources, presented by the National Mental Health Organization.
NAMI - Mental Health Conditions Seen in Childhood - “While abnormal behavior could just be normal aspects of childhood or a phase of growth or puberty — it could also be a mental health disorder.”
PARENTING
PBS Parents - “Raising Kids Who Thrive: Stories and advice on raising kind, caring and resilient children “
Promoting Resilient Families During COVID-19 - "Current events related to the COVID-19 virus can be stressful and confusing for families and communities. Our team at the Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) would like to share some ideas for caregivers and other adults working with children that we believe can be helpful as we all cope with the changing information, recommendations and limitations to our normal routines and activities."
MEDITATION APPS FOR KIDS
Breathe, Think Do with Sesame - "This bilingual (English and Spanish), research-based app helps your child learn Sesame’s “Breathe, Think, Do” strategy for problem-solving." (ages 4+)
Smiling Mind - "Smiling Mind is a free meditation app for people of all ages, but has youth programs for kids ages 7 and up."
Mindful Powers - “Built on a skills-based approach that helps children in early and middle childhood build a healthier relationship with life, stress, and anxiety, Mindful Powers™ empowers kids to bring calm to their lives at the touch of their fingertips.”
TEEN HEALTH
youngwomenshealth.org - "The mission of our website is to help teen girls, their parents, educators, and health care providers improve their understanding of normal health and development, as well as of specific diseases and conditions. We want to empower teen girls and young women around the world to take an active role in their own health care."
youngmenshealthsite.org -- "The mission of youngmenshealthsite.org is to help teen boys and their parents improve their understanding of normal health and development, as well as of specific diseases and conditions. We want to empower teen boys and young men around the world to take an active role in their own health care."
SUICIDE PREVENTION
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.TALK) is a great resource for young people, their friends and family. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your physician for advice. Your physician should also be familiar with mental health resources in your community. Additionally, it is becoming more common for primary care offices to have mental health experts embedded into the clinic which really helps with access.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Alcohol and Drug Hotline – 1-800-821-4357 - "24/7 national hotline that provides resources about local alcohol and drug abuse treatment options. Calls are free and confidential."
Other national hotlines - Hotlines for the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
National Eating Disorders Association, National Teen Dating Abuse Line, National Domestic Violence Hotline and many more.
Al-Anon – "Al‑Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking."
Alateen - "A place just for teens affected by someone else’s alcoholism."
SEXUAL HEALTH
iwannaknow.org – I Wanna Know "offers information on sexual health for teens and young adults. This is where you will find the facts, the support, the resources to answer your questions, referrals, and get access to in-depth information about sexual health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), healthy relationships, and more."
Never Fear Talks - "Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago’s Potocsnak Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine shows you real-life examples of adults and youth having quick meaningful conversations about navigating sexual health. We bring you Never Fear Talks!"
