Blog Pieces & News

Summer is finally around the corner and you and your kids might be looking
forward to sleeping in, having more free time, and zero school stress, at least until it’s time to go shopping for school supplies.

While we may have memories of easy-going, lazy summers from our own
childhoods, the fact is that, for some kids, the absence of structure, peer
connection, and daily routine can become a breeding ground for mental health
challenges that often go unnoticed.

This may especially be true for those kids who depend on the scaffolding and
support they receive in school, especially those with behavior intervention plans
and/or individualized education plans (IEPs). They no longer have a team of
professionals to keep an eye for them and are often left to their own devices
(literally) during the long summer season.

In our work to increase awareness of mental health challenges in both adults and youth, we emphasize the need to keep an eye out for changes. At first, the changes may be subtle, but as you increasingly notice them, they can become a cause for concern.

Of course, some or even many of these changes are par for the course of growing up, but others should raise your alarm:

• Are they withdrawing from family or friends even more than you would
• expect?
• Are they no longer interested in activities that they previously enjoyed?
• Are you noticing any sudden changes in sleep or appetite? Are they sleeping too much or not at all? Are they no longer eating properly?
• Are they increasingly irritable or are their moods swinging?
• Are they engaging in risky behaviors or substance use?
• And are they talking about harming themselves or even expressing thoughts about suicide?

All of these should be a call to action. Figure out how you’re going to raise the
topic. Can you let them know what you’ve been noticing while also showing them you care? If they tell you to mind your own business, give them space, but don’t drop the matter, either.

Circle back to it on a regular basis; maybe even put a reminder in your calendar to  check in with your kids.

According to the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, more than 40% of high
school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and nearly 10% had attempted suicide. And, yet, depression is one of the most treatable of the common mental health disorders.

Help your children get the help they need. If they need it, find a mental health
professional for them to see. You can also help them make connections to self-help strategies and support groups. Take advantage of the many resources out there that can help you and your kids.

Steve Benner is a Mental Health Awareness Trainer at the Center for Human
Services in Bloomington, Illinois. Trainings include QPR Suicide Prevention
Training, Mental Health First Aid both for adults and for adults who work with
youth, and the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). Go to mcchs.org and click
on Services for more details on upcoming trainings.

Published in the May issue of Healthy Cells-Bloomington/Normal.