Getting your child to talk about their emotions is key to battling anxiety and depression in youth.
SAN ANTONIO — Every May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But mental health needs to be recognized year-round, especially when it comes to children.
Anxiety problems, behavior disorders and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. Statistics show the problem has gotten worse in recent years.
“We have also seen the needs of children and families much higher than previous years, just the severity of struggles that our kids are facing with anxiety and depression, in particular suicide ideation,” said Jenni Lord, CEO of Chosen.
Getting your child to open up by giving them psychological safety is a must to help them with their mental health.
“Just being curious about who they are. The second thing is play disarms children. So playful engagement. We highly encourage that,” said Lord.
The CDC says slightly more than half of adolescents in the U.S. reported discussing their mental health with a health care professional. About 1-in-7 adolescents reported taking prescription medication to help with their emotions or mental health. And 1-in-5 adolescents age 12 to 17 reported having unmet mental health needs.
That is especially the case for the 4,000 children in Texas who are waiting to be adopted.
“Mental health issues have disproportionately impacted our children and youth who are in the foster care system or have had touches with child welfare,” said Lord.
That’s where Heart Galleries of Texas comes in.
They have photographs of kids looking for a forever home and they work with Chosen to ensure children have healing and permanency.
“To provide the tools and strategies and the interventions that are so necessary to attend to the mental health needs of children and make sure that that family stays together,” said Lord.