Mental Health Awareness Newsletter
Brought to you by the El Modena Counseling Team
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health by the Numbers:
- I in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
- 16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016
- 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016
- The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
- High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
Mental Health By the Numbers | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Mental Health and Your Teen: What to Watch for and How to Help
What is mental health?
Your child’s overall health includes both their physical and their mental health. Physical health includes things like how well a child grows, how strong they are and how well they can recover from an infection. Mental health includes how well a child thinks, copes with feelings and behaves. A mental health disorder in childhood involves delays or disruptions in thinking, behaviors, social skills, or regulation of emotions for a child of that age. These delays or disruptions cause distress to children or interfere with how well they function at home, school or in social situations.
Just like your child’s physical health, your child’s mental health changes over time, getting better or worse. We can help our children build habits that help them be mentally healthy, in the same way that we teach them habits such as brushing their teeth, eating nutritious food and getting proper exercise to help them be physically healthy.
Here are some actions adults can take when worried that a child or teen may be experiencing a mental health condition.
Signs of a mental health problem
Signs of a mental health problem
Mental health problems affect thinking, emotions and behavior. Parents, teachers, coaches and others can help identify early signs of mental health issues.
Notice if a child:
- Is feeling very sad or withdrawn for 2 or more weeks.
- Has severe mood swings.
- Shows big changes in behavior.
- Often has problems in friendships and other relationships.
- Has a sudden overwhelming fear or worry that does not match the situation.
- Seems unusually irritable.
- Displays explosive anger.
- Has trouble sleeping.
- Changes their eating habits.
- Loses weight.
- Is taking new risks, like using drugs or alcohol.
If a child is showing one or more of these signs contact their doctor, and be specific about which behaviors you, teachers and others have noticed. Getting the right treatment will help your child improve their mental health. In the meantime, talk with your child about a plan for coping and managing strong emotions.
Tips for teens to notice and help peers
Teens spend a lot of in-person and online time with peers. They can notice friends and peers who may be dealing with mental health challenges before adults notice.
- Teach your teen about mental health warning signs and urge them to tell an adult if they think they know someone who may have a mental health problem.
- Tell them to never keep it a secret if someone they know is thinking about suicide or harming others.
- Have your teen put the Crisis Text Line in their phone contacts: 741-741. Anyone can text the word “Home” to that number to be connected live with a trained crisis counselor. This service is free.
Counselors Host Mental Health Awareness Month
Counselors and our mental health awareness club, Bring Change 2 Mind, will be hosting Together Thursdays. On each Thursday in the month of May, students and staff will come together to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Students and staff are encouraged to wear their "Be Kind to Your Mind" (or green) t-shirt and participate in events.
Together Thursday Events:
Thursday, May 5th: Be Kind to your Mind!
Mental health awareness kick off. Staff and students are encouraged to wear either their "be kind to your mind" or green t-shirt every Thursday for the entire month of May.
Thursday, May 12th: Affirmation Grams
BC2M club members and counselors will be passing out affirmation grams with the goal of spreading positive on campus.
Thursday, May 19th: End the Stigma Photo Booth
A photo booth will be set up at lunch for students to take pictures with their friends with a backdrop and fun props. Students can purchase a keepsake polaroid picture for $1.
Thursday, May 28th: What Does Mental Health Mean to you?
Students will write out what mental health means to them for a chance to win varies prizes and gift cards.
Never be embarrassed to ask for help
Below are a list of resources:
CareSolace is an online resource with a live 24x7 concierge line meant to assist individuals in finding local mental health related programs and counseling services. Talk to your child's high school counselor for more information.
2-1-1 Orange County By dialing 2-1-1, callers reach a free, 24-hour information and referral helpline linking them to thousands of local health and human service
programs in Orange County, CA.
UCI Pediatric Health UCI Health Psychiatry team specializes in working with children, teens and their parents to help them navigate the unique problems they face in today’s world. UCI Health Adolescent Psychiatry programs have helped children and teens gain impulse control, manage emotions and improve the quality of their relationships.
CHOC Pediatric Mental Health Skilled multidisciplinary team of specialists for children and teens that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
El Modena's Counseling Team
Mrs. Parizeau (A - Ci) shellyp@orangeusd.org
Mrs. Tan (Cla-Gom) rtan@orangeusd.org
Mrs. Calvillo (Gon - Lo)a calvillo@orangeusd.org
Mrs. Acuna (Lu - Pal)p acuna@orangeusd.org
Mrs. Echavarria (Par - Sten) aechavarria@orangeusd.org
Mrs. Singleton (Step - Z & DMC) hsingleton@orangeusd.org