Disclaimer: I’ve partnered with On Our Sleeves™ for the creation and sharing of this post.
Shelter-in-place has presented itself in various levels of difficulty for everyone. My family spent the better part of the last three months in a small two-bedroom apartment without a yard. Our income, like that of many, has taken a dive. The boys (3 & 7) have a lot of energy and our oldest has had schoolwork to do every day. The journey keeps evolving.
One of the ways we’ve been able to cope with all of this is to take a walk as a family most days. It’s a time where we can reconnect in a place that offers us space to move, fresh air to breath, and the ability to experience and express gratitude
Gratitude helps us grow mentally as people and a grateful mindset can put us on the right path to a healthy mindset. Mental health matters more than ever right now, especially for children. We talk with our sons daily about what they are grateful for in life. Sometimes their answers focus on items that we own. Other times they focus on the fact that my wife has been able to be home with us more. Planes aren’t flying much so she’s not had to travel and be away from us much.
Mental illness touches everyone in some way. You may have a friend, family member or child who is living with a mental illness. One in five children is living with a mental illness, and 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses start by age 14.
Mental health is a clinical issue affecting kids everywhere. And not just the ones in a community hard hit by the current pandemic. There are many causes of mental health conditions and that as a patient, parent, friend, teacher, or caregiver it can be confusing. None of us must be alone though. Sure, we might be spaced distantly in a physical sense, but modern technology has allowed us to find connections even over great distances.
I am using this time to forge stronger connections with my family and friends through various types of communications that out modern society offers. Help is out there, and it is okay to ask for support. I am also trying to use these conversations to end stigmas and misconceptions about behavioral health. Now, more than ever, we need to be open and honest about our struggles.
A great place to start in your search for free tools and resources for children and families in the U.S. is at the On Our Sleeves™ website: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving/on-our-sleeves