Health Matters: Strategies For Mental Health And Well-Being

HEALTH MATTERS Everyday Ways To Support Children’s Mental Wellness

Supplied By The WECHU

Turning the living room into a dance area can help you and your child boost your mental and physical health.

The past two years have been challenging, especially for children.

Adjusting from in-class to online learning and back again, has disrupted children’s education and everyday experiences in a meaningful way.

Socialization is vital for child development, and many children have experienced isolation from their friends, teachers, coaches, and extended families.

Now that many pandemic restrictions are lifting, some children may experience new uncertainties or anxieties around these changes to their routines.

Help your children adjust to these transitions by talking about changing pandemic restrictions in age-appropriate ways.

There are many strategies parents and caregivers can use to support their children’s and whole family’s mental health and well-being such as . . .

Keep A Routine

Kids, teens, and adults all do their best when working with a predictable routine. Keeping a routine at home is especially important when the outside world is unpredictable.

Get Active

Physical activity is essential for maintaining mental wellness. A walk outside, a bike ride, or some dancing in the living room can go a long way to enhancing your mood.

Make Time To Connect

Create opportunities for socialization. When you can’t see friends and family in person, video calls can help you stay connected.

Limit Social Media

Everyone benefits from logging off and doing other activities, like reading a book or comic, playing a game, cooking, or creating art.

Practice Mindfulness

Turn daily tasks into mindful moments. When you wash your hands, feel the sensation of the water and soap bubbles on your skin. Listen to the sounds of the water.

Remember that ups and downs in moods are expected; however, some children will experience a more serious mental health issue. Around one in five children and youth in Ontario will experience a mental illness.

Parents and caregivers can identify any developing problems early on so that children who need extra support can get the help they need.

Make an effort to . . . • Talk with them and listen to what they are saying. Pay special attention if a child says he/she feels sad or anxious, or expresses thoughts of hurting him/herself. • Notice changes in behaviour or emotion that last for some time, or changes in behaviour that interferes with their daily functioning at home or school.

For more tips on how to support children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, visit: Wechu.org/ cv/mental-health. You can call 2-1-1 or refer to: 211ontario.ca to find mental health resources near you. The Kids Help Phone (KidsHelpPhone.ca) is available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 for kids, teens, and young adults in English and French. You can also reach out to the Indigenous Hope for Wellness (HopeForWellness.ca) Help Line 1-855-242-3310 or the Black YouthHelpline (BlackYouth.ca) 1-833-294-8650. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), in partnership with other agencies and health care providers, seeks to enable all Windsor and Essex County residents to be as healthy as possible. The Health Unit is located at 1005 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor and online at: WECHU.org.