BY DEBORAH BROOKS
Healthy Minds: Why Early Mental Health Support Matters
The importance of mental health is all around us, affecting individuals, families and communities every day. Early intervention for kids, teens and new moms can help support and change the trajectory of their future success in relationships and all of the challenges life presents us with. Kids in particular who are given the opportunity to learn healthy ways of identifying and expressing their thoughts, emotions and discomforts, develop more confidence and resiliency. Coaching and Therapy can play an important role in early intervention. At Sapphire Pediatrics we use a Collaborative Care Approach working with your pediatrician to identify and support you as parents and the challenges you and they may be facing. As we follow you post-partum all the way through to the teen years we use measures and research based techniques to develop care plans unique to you and your family. Teens often go through changes both social and developmentally that parents are unsure how to support. Again, we don’t have to look to far to see many teens struggling with identity, friendships, academic pressures, social media influences and family struggles.
Depression, anxiety, social isolation, low self-worth, stress management and much more can interfere with their ability to thrive. Early intervention provides kids and teens with tools that carry them throughout their life. Seeking out parent coaching or therapy for you or your teens does not mean something is “wrong.” It seemly means you understand the importance of the mind being as healthy and strong as the body. It can be a beautifully preventative way of staying healthy without waiting until something is “wrong.”
Supporting Postpartum
Transitioning into motherhood can be amazing and come with enormous changes in daily life, emotional regulation, stress management, hormonal changes and shifting priorities. The life altering demands of caring for a baby leave many feeling unsure, embarrassed and scared to tell others how they feel. At Sapphire Pediatrics we support post-partum moms through monitoring with measures and symptoms that may be in need of attention. Our collaborative care model allows for mental health services to surround you so you never feel alone. Again early intervention enhances resources and supports to walk you through birth to raising young adults. Getting support is a sign of strength and hope not weakness or failing.
You Have the Greatest Impact on your Child
You are influencing your child and family by your presence daily. There are times in parenting we feel incredibly challenged. Children are unique and come with different temperaments, personalities, minds and bodies. Dr. Abigail Hirsch created a coaching curriculum called Trekwise that supports parents and caregivers alongside the child. It combines specific and practical tools you and they can practice to increase resiliency to thrive not just survive. When we empower ourselves and grow modeling healthy habits so do our children. Observation is powerful, perhaps this week you watch and allow your child to be your teacher. Notice when they are acting out, notice when they are quiet or attempting to get in their siblings’ space. What might be going on for them, what is it they are actually seeking out?
Creating a Culture of Asking for Help
We all need help sometimes. The ability to ask putting aside embarrassment or shame is a game changer. When talking about mental health is normalized, recognize early signs and seek help without shame we give teens the opportunity to equip themselves for the present and future. Early intervention means we don’t wait for a crisis or a loud cry for help. One conversation, one connection and one person at a time. According to the National Library of Medicine research specifically looking at youth-adult relationships with parents and other caring adults is associated with protection against poor health outcomes and positive self-development. This is foundational.
Create Your Safety Net
Ultimately, early intervention, collaborative care between parents, physicians, therapists, coaches, schools and other supportive adults creates a stronger safety net for post-partum moms, children and teens. Mental health treatment should be viewed not as a last resort but as an imperative part of prevention, wellness and long-term health. By having open conversations, removing stigmas and building collaborative care we create thriving families.