Counselor’s Corner, May 2024
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! Mental health is a vital component of overall health and well-being. It’s estimated that 1 in 6 youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. About half of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lives, with symptoms starting by age 14 for the majority of people.
With this in mind, it’s so important that we continue to raise awareness around mental health. I encourage all parents and caregivers to take a look at this guide from Seattle Children’s Hospital: Mental Health and Your Child or Teen. The guide includes a summary of what mental health is, what to watch for, and recommendations for promoting your child’s mental health.
If you have concerns about your child’s mental health or well-being, please seek help. You can contact me via email at cshaw@st-johnschool.org. I provide short-term counseling to students and offer families consultation and referrals to community resources. Other good places to start are reaching out to your child’s teacher or pediatrician if you have concerns.
May Resources
- I strongly urge all families to attend the upcoming St. John Parent Education Night on May 21. It’s a timely topic on how to keep kids safe online. Parenting expert, Christy Keating, of The Heartful Parent Collective, will give this virtual talk.
- Dr. Lisa Damour, author of three best-selling parenting books, has a great podcast called “Ask Lisa” on a variety of hot topics about parenting tweens and teens.
- Looking for some tools to add to your child’s coping skills toolbox? Check out the website Coping Skills for Kids! Janine Halloran, who’s behind the site and has created many great resources, is also giving a free virtual talk on June 5, titled, “Calm and Connected: Coaching Coping Skills in your Children.”
