Mental Health: A Parent's Guide (SECONDARY EDITION):

Approximately one in five children will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point during their childhood. These numbers are expected to rise due to the Covid19 pandemic, as schools and parents report increased indicators of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns in children.

Parents are crucial to the early detection of, response to, and outreach for their child’s mental health issues. Schools need to help equip parents to meet this challenge. Studies show that early intervention can improve coping skills, resiliency, and ability to overcome obstacles. This reference guide will help parents of children in secondary school:

• Understand the most common mental disorders in children
• Identify the warning signs that may indicate a potential mental health problem
• Learn how to access mental health supports for their child
• Increase the protective factors in children to promote resiliency and healthy coping strategies

The guide includes a mental health checklist for parents and identifies additional comprehensive resources for addressing children’s mental health.

Also available in Spanish-language edition.