Support Your Child’s Mental Health this School Year

The school year is gearing up in most places. Which makes this a great time to talk about ways you can support your child's mental health during the school year. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 20% of all students will experience a mental health disorder at some point during their academic career. And around 50% of college-level students will experience anxiety or depression. This can lead to problems with grades, social relationships, and overall well-being. Here are 4 ways you can help support your child's mental health this school year:

Encourage good sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that young adults get around eight to ten hours of sleep every night. Getting adequate sleep is linked to improved concentration, more stable moods, and better overall health. You can help your child get better sleep by sticking to a regular sleep schedule and by providing them with a comfortable place to sleep. The national sleep foundation has these recommendations for an optimal sleep space:

• A temperature around 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit
• A quiet environment, with the use of ambient noise (such as a white noise machine or fan)
• Avoid using screens that emit blue light (such as phones, computers, or TVs) which can disrupt natural wake/sleep patterns

Encourage open communication. It's important to have an open line of communication with your child so that you can discuss any concerns that they may have. This will help you understand when and if your child is feeling overwhelmed or stressed. It is also the best way to understand and intervene if your child is experiencing bullying.

Manage stress. Managing stress is something we often associate with adulthood, but it is an important life skill that starts forming at a young age. Helping your child learn healthy ways to manage their stress now, will continue to help them manage stress in the future.

Using body-based techniques to manage and reduce anxiety. Techniques like Tre™ can give both you and your child an outlet for releasing stress and reducing anxiety during the school year and beyond. Emerging evidence suggests that Tre™ is among one of the most effective ways to relieve symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. 

Supporting your child's mental health is a great way to help them have a great school year and make progress towards gaining independence. Many times parents suffer in silence when their children struggle with mental health. I encourage you to spread the word to those who need it by sending this blog post to anyone you know with children or sharing it on social media. You can also find more about managing symptoms of anxiety and PTSD in my free weekly newsletter, The Brilliant Life Insider, and my free guide: Coping With Your Young Adult's Anxiety.