"As Families Grieve, Grandparents Step Up" NY Times It’s estimated that 167,000 children have lost a parent or care giver to the pandemic. "People say it’s a blessing” to care for her granddaughter, she said. “Yes, it is. But it’s also work, a responsibility I have to take on that I wasn’t ready for.”
There is so much to do for these children and the grandparents. Many worthy and important support groups linked in the article. Take a moment to reach out and support.
"I Lost My Pregnancy: Here's How I'm Finding Community Now" Written by Leah Gordon in Mindbodygreen.comFinding community is so critical in processing grief and loss. This piece speaks to the need for anyone in any situation who has suffered a loss to seek a community, to share, and allow the pain to emerge in words. Once we see our words and share them a path toward calm is begun.
Young and depressed? Try Woebot! The rise of mental health chatbots in the US We know there’crisis among young people today, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, grief, and more. Mental health support is needed. Schools do not have the staff to support each and every student. Parents are struggling to find therapist and counselors. To say dire need is an understatement. "National estimates suggest there are fewer than 10 child psychiatrists for every 100,000 young people, less than a quarter of the staffing level recommended by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry."
Nature hates a vacuum thus the advent of technology with digital wellenss tools and Chatbots. “Young and Depressed? Try Webot!” in the Guardian by Mark Keierleber looks at one Woebot. A striking discussion here. From my perspective as a volunteer crisis counselor many teens who log in for support ask if I'm a bot. It takes a bit to convince them I'm real. They want real.
“Darien offers mental health First Aid course to help residents spot those in distress” Darien, CT is offering a mental health first aid training course to teach residents how to respond to those experiencing distress. This is excellent just like Helmlich maneuver or CPR when we as humans are trained to respond to a help someone in need we can save a life. The more of us helping others is so critical to filling the current and future need in mental health.
“U.S. task force raises doubts on youth suicide screening” Witten by Lindsey Tanner for STAT. "U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said there’s not enough evidence to recommend routinely screening kids who show no obvious signs of being suicidal." Open for comments until May 9. Yes much research is needed yet asking about suicidal ideation or attempts will not plant the idea in kids. In fact asking can prevent suicide. Learn more at AFSP Talk Saves Lives.
“How Can Schools Combat the Covid-19 Slide? Bullying Prevention Is the Best Place To Start” We need to do all we can to reverse these trends and stop bullying in its tracks. So, where should we start? "According to National Center for Educational Statistics, one out of every five (20.2%) students report being bullied at school, with male students more likely to be physically bullied than female students. However, a higher percentage of female students reported being the target of rumors and being deliberately excluded from activities."
Train the teachers, cyberbullying is at center of this, and prevention needs to be a policy in all school districts.
“The power of kindness in improving brain health” Kindness is powerful and does not just affect the recipient's feelings—kindness can also impact an entire family's brain health. Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas sought to understand whether an online kindness training program improves preschooler's prosocial behaviors and their parents' resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In times of stress, taking a moment to practice kindness for yourself and model it for your children can boost your own resilience and improve your child’s prosocial behaviors,” said Fratantoni. “Do not underestimate the power of kindness, because it can ultimately change and shape brain health.”
“How a youth mental-health crisis is crushing working parents” Juggling a full time career and parenting has always been hard. The pandemic has just leveled that up for parents with added struggles social-emotional health for both the kiddo's and themselves.
A recent survey from Nationwide Children's Hospital found >50% of parents said they missed work at least once a month or had workdays interrupted to to manage their child's mental health. Add to that 30% to50% of working parents noted they were distracted at work by thoughts about their child's well-being.
An excellent piece with ideas to help ease this burden. Employers take notice do your part.