What Families and Caregivers Can Do

Description

Based on the U.S. Surgeon General’s Protecting Youth Mental Health advisory, this resource (from our What Families and Caregivers Can Do series) highlights 8 important steps that families and caregivers can take to engage with children and youth on mental health topics, help them become more resilient, and address emerging mental health challenges.

1. Be the best role model you can be for young people by taking care of your own mental and physical health.
2. Help children and youth develop strong, safe, stable, and healthy relationships with adults and peers.
3. Provide children and youth with safe, supportive, stable, and predictable home and neighborhood environments.
4. Try to minimize negative influences and behaviors in young people’s lives.
5. Ensure children and youth have regular check-ups with a pediatrician, family doctor, or other health care professional.
6. Look out for warning signs of distress, and seek help when needed.
7. Be attentive to how children and youth spend time online.
8. Be a voice for mental health in your community.

To read the full Protecting Youth Mental Health advisory, please visit: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf