Parent Toolkit
Did you know that 50% of lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, or that 1 in 5 youth have a diagnosable mental illness? It is critical that parents have tools and resources to help prevent the development of mental illness in youth, and to intervene when a problem arises. Research shows that one of the best mental illness protective factors for youth is having at least one strong, healthy relationship with an adult. Mental health effects everyone, and it is never too early to start talking to your child.
Download “Filling your child’s emotional backpack?” flyer:
English and Spanish
Download “Are you ready for the emotional storm?” flyer:
English and Spanish
Resources in Response to the High School Shooting
In response to the recent high school shooting in Santa Fe Texas, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help families and communities. These resources include tip sheets on:
- The Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
- Tip Sheet for Youth Talking to Journalists about the Shooting
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting
- Talking to Children about the Shooting
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
- After the Injury—website for families with injured children
FOR ALL PARENTS
After The Storm: A Guide to Help Children Cope with the Psychological Effects of a Hurricane
Developed by 7-Dippity, Inc. and Dr. Annette La Greca, Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami, this special edition of After the Storm was created to better address the needs of children and families impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The interactive workbook contains information, activities and coping strategies to help parents and caregivers assist children in coping with their reactions and feelings from the hurricane and its aftermath. Accede al libro de trabajo en español aquí.
American Psychological Association – Bullying
Resources on bullying, cyberbullying, and how to stop it.
Child Trauma Resources for Parents and Caregivers
You can play an important role in helping your children and teenagers recover from traumatic events. These pages are designed for birth parents, adoptive parents, resource/foster parents, grandparents, caregivers, and all others who care for children and teens.
Research, data and information about symptoms and treatment for mental health issues in children.
A collection of guides that cover a broad range of topics, from the basics on children’s mental health and learning disorders to advice for parents handling common challenges.
Mental Health Channel –“Family Portrait”
The Center is grateful for our partnership with the Mental Health Channel that allows us to share wonderful content. The series “Family Portrait” focuses on families dealing with mental illness and all of the challenges and joy that comes with it.
MHA: What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health
Tips for caring for your child’s mental health as well as their physical health.
Parents Guide to Getting Good Care
A guide to finding the best professional to treat your child, things to look for to ensure that you’re getting quality care, and questions to ask to evaluate both the clinicians and treatments they offer.
A comprehensive list of risk and protective factors for youth mental illness.
Technology and Youth: Protecting your Child from Electronic Aggression
Tips on how to keep your child safe from cyber-bulling and electronic aggression.
A resource for laws in the State of Texas regarding bullying.
FOR PARENTS OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
A list of children’s books to help youth develop important social, emotional, and mental wellness skills
Children’s Books for Talking About Trauma
The National Traumatic Stress Network provides many free resources for parents, including a library of books that parents can use to talk to their children about trauma.
Children’s Mental Health Emotional E-book Library
This e-book library donated, by Capstone Interactive, has excellent books for reading to or with children that assist in the development of social emotional skills and initiate conversations around mental well being. These e-books have unlimited access with multiple users.
Site username: mhahouston
Site password: houston
A children’s book written to help children and grown-ups (parents, teachers, and other important adults) understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them. The book is available in Arabic, English, Spanish and Turkish.
Learn about the brain, do virtual experiments and read articles about brain developement.
FOR PARENTS OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
13 Resources for “13 Reasons Why” Conversations
As a parent, you have likely heard your child talk about the popular Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” Even if you haven’t heard of it, chances are your child has watched it. The show depicts the suicide of a teenager girl through tapes she left that outline the various people and events that led to her death. The show addresses important issues that teens face, and it is important that parents discuss these topics with their child. Use this site to find resources that can help guide the conversation.
The Teen Brain: 6 Things to Know
A brief overview of brain development in teens.
Youth Tips for Parents: How to Talk to Your Teenager About His or Her Mental Health
Suggestions written by teens for talking to your adolescent about mental health.
*Materials were created or identified as resources by the Center for School Behavioral Health at Mental Health America of Greater Houston.
