Emotionally Healthy Kids- Did You Know-September 20205
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a very important topic affecting not only our community and youth but people all over the world. TASK would like to continue to help raise awareness, promote hope, and normalize help-seeking. An easy and important way to do so is simply talking about it!
DID YOU KNOW Suicide affects millions of people every year, yet too many struggle in silence. Whether you’re facing challenges, supporting a friend or loved one, or are looking to help, your voice matters. Talking about suicide might feel scary or awkward but creating a safe space to talk about it can save a life. Multiple studies show that asking about suicide is not harmful and often empowering. You won’t put the idea into their heads and if a child has been struggling with thoughts of suicide, knowing that a concerned adult is willing to have an open conversation is often a relief. Here are some steps that can make a big difference for kids and get them on the pathway to living an emotionally healthy life:
- Do not wait for a crisis to talk about emotions and safety concerns. Many times, we respond to a child when there is a crisis, but part of preventing suicide is being aware of mental health issues before things become overwhelming.
- Check in regularly about their lives, how they are doing, and how you can support them.
- Ask open-ended questions that can’t be answered with “yes/no” or “IDK” to allow for a deeper conversation.
- Provide emotional space to talk. Many children believe they shouldn’t show their emotions to “be strong” but research has shown that addressing difficult emotions head on can reduce how intense and how long they last. Allow them to share whatever they are feeling and normalize all emotions. Validate their difficulty managing intense emotions.
- Look for changes in mood or behavior that might be a warning sign that something is wrong. For example, if your child seems really down, they stop doing things they normally enjoy, or you notice significant changes in eating or sleeping.
- Ask directly if they have had thoughts of ending their own life. Even if your child is not struggling with suicide or depression, asking the question shows your child that it is healthy to talk about serious emotional concerns and that you are willing to talk about hard things. It also models for them how to seek support from other trusted adults.
Check out https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/mental-health-resources/suicide-prevention/kids-suicide-conversation for more resources and great videos sharing how to talk to young kids and teens about suicide.
September is also Addiction Awareness and National Recovery month. These two topics coincide, to create more impact and the alignment allows for a united effort in raising awareness about addiction and supporting individuals on their recovery journey. National Recovery Month, aims to celebrate individuals who have overcome substance use disorders and mental health challenges and promotes the message that recovery is possible. Addiction Awareness Month focuses on educating communities about the impact of substance use disorders and mental health conditions. The connection between recovery and awareness is crucial in addressing addiction-related issues. It emphasizes that addiction is a complex but treatable disease, and it promotes a message of hope and understanding.
TASK is a non-profit with a mission to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse and related harm – Keeping kids safe in collaboration with our community partners. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more tips and resources and visit us at – www.tahoesafekids.org