Mental Health Mondays - Children's Mental Health Matters

Safety While At Home

School closures, teleworking, rising unemployment and an uncertain future have left families to cope with stay at home orders under heightened stress and anxiety. As we do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, families may encounter a situation where crisis services are needed to assist with a mental health issue, substance use disorder, abusive situation, or even support navigating digital safety issues.

This week we are highlighting several important safety topics that impact families each day, but even more during this pandemic, including: crisis services, mental health, suicide, substance use, abuse and digital safety.

Please save and share these valuable resources and stay safe.

Maryland's Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours days a week to provide support, guidance and assistance: Call 211, press 1

Emergency number: 9-1-1

National Suicide Prevention Hotlines: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (-8255)

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1

Maryland Crisis Online Chat: http://www.help4mdyouth.org/chat/ (available Mon.- Fri., 4pm - 9pm)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

Crisis Services

Facts for Families: Crisis Services (Also available in Spanish)

Facts for Families: First Steps in Seeking Help (Also available in Spanish)

Facts for Families: When to Seek Help

COVID-19 Victim Resources | Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services

The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line: Whether students are experiencing cyberbullying or are concerned about one or more students capable of self-harm or violence, The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line is anonymous and accessible 24/7 by phone at 1-833-MD-B-SAFE (1-833-632-7233), online at safeschoolsmd.org, and by downloading the free app via the App Store or Google Play.

Mental Health

Facts for Families: Psychosis

Facts for Families: Self-Injurious Behavior (Also available in Spanish)

Maryland Coalition of Families: Provides online support groups for families caring for someone with mental health or substance use disorder, online meet-ups for young adults aged 18-26 who are struggling with their mental health, online Narcan and parenting trainings, as well as online book clubs, exercise groups, self-care workshops and cooking classes. See the list of online support groups here. See the list of events and trainings here.

OK2TALK: A community for support teens and young adults struggling with mental health problems by encouraging them to talk about what they’re experiencing—sharing their personal stories of recovery, tragedy, struggle, and hope. Learn more.

Suicide

Facts for Families: Suicide

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) TTY: 1-800-799-4889 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

COVID-19 Resources - Crisis Response | The National Center for School Mental Health: Offers multiple resources on suicide under the Crisis Response category.

Implications of COVID-19 for LGBTQ Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention | The Trevor Project

Suicide Prevention During the Pandemic: Staying Safe While Social Distancing | UNC Trauma Talk

Substance Use

Facts for Families: Substance Use (Also available in Spanish)

Alcohol, Drug, Mental Health Treatment & Programs Directory | SAMHSA

Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults | SAMHSA

Abuse

National Domestic Violence Hotline: For any victims and survivors who need support, we are here for you, 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

Signs of Child Abuse | Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Baltimore Child Abuse Center Virtual Training - May 2020

Reporting Child Abuse During COVID-19 | Child Abuse Network

The Coronavirus Could Cause a Child Abuse Epidemic | The New York Times

Digital Safety

"Think Before You Send" video | Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Internet Safety Tips and Activities | NetSmartzKids

Staying Safe Online: Teens | Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Staying Safe Online: Caregivers | Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Cyberbullying | Understood

Media & Technology - Screentime during COVID-19, Cyberbullying + more | Child Mind Institute

Resiliency & Taking Care of Yourself

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, or even trauma. It is a skill that we develop as we grow. All children, and adults, are capable of working through the difficulties they will face throughout their lifetime. One of the many ways to build resilience is through taking care of ourselves, which can be practiced in many ways, including:

1. 1. Talking about and labeling emotions
  2. Making time for relationships
  3. Practicing gratitude
  4. Spending time outside and prioritizing exercise
  5. Following a healthy diet and trying to sleep well
  6. Taking a break from media
  7. Practicing relaxation and coping skills

We hope this week’s resources will help you and your families to build resilience during this stressful time.

Grief

During this unprecedented public health crisis, it’s common to feel a lot of stress and anxiety. In addition to the tragic loss of life, health, and income, we’re experiencing the loss of our daily routines.

Many of us are grieving.

Grief can be a strong, and sometimes overwhelming emotion, but it’s a natural reaction to loss. We may find ourselves and our children in the stages of grief and loss, which include:

1. Denial and isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Those who are grieving do not necessarily go through the stages in the same order or experience all of them. This week, we are providing resources for your families to help cope with the big feelings that come with the 5 stages of grief. We hope that you find them useful and that you remember to reach out for help if you find yourself, or your child, struggling.

Parents

Grieving the Losses of Coronavirus | The New York Times

The Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief | Harvard Business Review

Overcoming FOMO: What Fuels Your Fear of Missing Out? | GoodTherapy

Grieving in Exceptional Times | Hospice Foundation

Children

Facts for Families: Grief

Facts for Families: Trauma

Emotion Planning: Grief

Coping Skills Cards

Handling Your Kid’s Disappointment When Everything Is Canceled | The New York Times

Making A Child's Birthday Special In Midst of a Pandemic | Huffpost

Trauma & Grief Resources | Child Mind Institute

Social distancing and teens: What adults can learn from this connected generation

How Children Grieve | Social Work Today

Educators

Facts for Educators: Grief

Facts for Educators: Trauma

Four Core Priorities for Trauma-Informed Distance Learning

COVID-19 Resources for Social Workers and Therapists

Teachers You Are Essential | Understood

Stress & Anxiety

Our lives have been turned upside down. The days seem to run together now that many of us struggle to manage parenting, classwork, jobs, or even job loss. As families begin to feel the stress that comes with a global pandemic and massive shifts in daily routine, how do they know when that stress had become something more concerning? Long-term stress may develop into anxiety at any age. And, too much stress or anxiety can affect our ability to think clearly.

Here are 5 simple ways that adults and children can decrease stress while practicing social distancing:

1. Move your body
2. Eat well & drink enough water
3. Turn off your phone/limit social media/media & news exposure
4. Get a good night's sleep
5. Have fun together!

We hope this week’s resources and tools will help you and your family to remember self-care, improve your coping skills, and calm your fears.

Parents

Coronavirus - Coping with Stress

Coronavirus - Crisis Resources

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Fact Sheet

Stress Fact Sheet

Calm Your Coronavirus Fears

COVID-19 Parenting Keep Calm & Manage Stress | World Health Organization

How to Help Someone With Anxiety | Mental Health First Aid

Children

Calm Your Child's Coronavirus Fears

Facts for Families: Anxiety Disorders

Facts for Families: Anxiety Disorders (Spanish)

Breathing Wands Activity | CMHM Campaign

Managing Stress & Anxiety Resources | Understood

How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus | PBS Kids

5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus | The New York Times

Supporting Teenagers & Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis | Child Mind Institute

After A Crisis: How Young Children Heal | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Educators

Facts for Educators: Anxiety Disorders

Facts for Families: Managing Educator Stress & Well Being

Facts for Educators: Crisis Management

Navigating Coronavirus As An Educator With Anxiety | Understood

5 Tips for Supporting Students Socially & Emotionally During Distance | Understood

Working & Learning from Home

Being a parent can be stressful in many ways. Add in a global pandemic, school closures, remote working, and nagging uncertainty and stress can increase rapidly. How do we balance working from home while helping our children learn and play? How do we adapt to changing routines while managing our households as this situation unfolds?

For over 20 years, the Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign has worked to raise awareness of the importance of children’s mental health by connecting communities and providing resources that promote resiliency. During this difficult time, we want you to know that you are not alone. Adjusting to new routines is difficult for each of us—young and old. Below you will find links to information that we hope will support you as you navigate the new normal and create a routine that meets the needs of your family.