Mental Health Resources for Your Kids
If you are in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1.
Each May, we pay extra attention to emotional wellbeing, thanks to national Mental Health Month. This year’s month of awareness building and education comes as the Surgeon General, American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that our youth’s mental health is a national emergency.
The team at Oregon Medical Group encourages you to check in with your child or a child who is important to you. Creating opportunities for honest and open conversations can help kids share how they’re really doing, and you can connect them with help. On our screens, parents and kids solve problems and address issues around a dining table, or during a formal ‘family meeting’. In real life, the opportunities to learn more about how your child is doing surface during impromptu moments like driving home from school, doing the dishes and saying good night. Seize these low-pressure moments to check in with your child. Here’s some guidance:
Ask open-ended questions that allow your child to bring up their feelings… and then listen.
Don’t be afraid to ask them to tell you more.
Be ready to hear the happy and the sad things.
If you hear something that you’re concerned with, there are lots of resources out there for you. And of course, we’re always here to help.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: if you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org to access support via chat.
Substance Use Disorder Helpline: Call 1-855-780-5955 for assistance with substance use disorders, including treatment resources.
Mental Health America: Visit the "Finding Help" page for information on mental health conditions and links to resources in your area.
National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need.