United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention
By Jodi Goldstein
Many youths in our community have expressed that their parents don’t take their mental health concerns seriously. Stigma, lack of knowledge and poor access to services are some of the possible reasons. The consequences of not understanding your child’s mental health can result in pain, suffering, and progression of mental health disorders. This can then have a domino effect on their health and result in increased hospitalizations, incarcerations, school dropouts, unemployment, social isolation, poor functioning, and loss of productivity, among many others.
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, there is no better time than NOW for parents to take action and reach out to their children. It is important to start conversations early, pay attention to their emotions and feelings, and act quickly. When we are busy, we tend to become numb to our own true needs and to the ones of those around us, so it’s important to focus on what can be controlled. Spend time with your children and engage in fun and relaxing family activities. Listen and have meaningful conversations without judgement.
Remember, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We all can play a role in making sure that great childhoods start happening now for all children in our community. Let’s break the stigma by sharing the fact that mental health is just as essential as physical health. Normalizing the conversation about mental health empowers people to talk and get the help they need. Also let’s be aware that stress hormones are released during stressful situations and the frequent presence of these stress hormones can lead to physical conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and overall poor health outcomes. Let’s be kind to ourselves and others. Let’s end bullying and discrimination, pain, and suffering. Let’s bring hope to our communities, to our families and to our lives.
For more information, toolkits, educational videos, etc., please visit the Prevention Resource Center at www.DrugFreeBroward.org
