Newsletter: Helping our Kids with Mental Health
Dear friends,
Today marks World Mental Health Day. With school back in swing and the holidays coming up, not to mention the horrific war unfolding in Israel and the ongoing war in Ukraine, it can be a particularly difficult time for our mental health. The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health has reported that over one third of Massachusetts youth have experienced trauma, abuse, or significant stress in the past year.
Improving mental health care is one of my top priorities in Congress. I was proud to write the bipartisan bill creating the 988 mental health lifeline, which went live last summer and has already helped millions of people across the country. Another of my bills, the Brandon Act, is making it easier for active duty servicemembers to confidentially access critical mental healthcare.
Stephanie Sladen, LICSW, is the Executive Director of Children's Friend and Family Services, a nonprofit serving the mental health and substance use needs of youth and families across Essex County. For today's newsletter, I've invited her to help answer a few common questions she hears from parents, caregivers, and educators across the district.
All the best,
Rep. Seth Moulton
Mental Health Q&A with Stephanie Sladen, LICSW
How do I know if my child or someone I know is struggling with their mental health?
According to the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), over one fifth of us will experience a mental health issue in our lifetime.
Mental health challenges can look very different from person to person, and something like anxiety might look very different than depression or trauma. When we assess mental health, regardless of the type of concern, we try to understand the frequency, duration, and intensity of whatever is happening for a person and its impact on their day to day lives. Mental Health is about our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, so if any of these spheres are impacted to a point where it is getting in the way of our day to day functioning, it is best to seek out support in assessing what might be going on. Mental health can be impacted by many things and can change over time.
If you suspect someone you care about is struggling, notice changes in their behavior or interest level in things, or see their symptoms impacting their day to day functioning, check in on them.
Where do I start in looking for help for them?
There are many helpers out there in the world, and you need to do what feels right for you or for your family. The important thing is acknowledging that you or your loved one needs and wants help, and then exploring what type of help might feel best to start with. If you have insurance, it can be helpful to contact your provider.
Insurance providers can often let you know what services are covered in your area and may be able to connect you to a local behavioral health clinic or service provider. Many outpatient clinics now provide urgent outpatient services that offer same-day or next-day appointments. If your employer has an Employee Assistance Program, they can also be very helpful in connecting people to services in their community. Many of our referrals at Children's Friend and Family Services come by word of mouth, so talking with someone else about who they have been connected with can be helpful and can feel reassuring.
In addition to dedicated mental health providers in the community, you could connect with a school counselor, a pastor or religious leader, a primary care physician, or a reputable telehealth provider. You also could consider checking out "Handhold," a family-friendly website for parents in Massachusetts who are worried about their child's mental health.
What do I do in the meantime if there is a waiting list for a therapist?
There is such a high demand for mental health support right now and a shortage of providers. This has led to long waiting lists. What should you do in the meantime? First and foremost, in the case of worsening conditions, get to know 988, the free suicide and mental health crisis support line that is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Second, there are many support services out there that can be used while you wait for therapy or in addition to therapy. Some local options you may consider include:
- The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone call and text at 833-773-2445 (,BHHL), and online chat at masshelpline.com.
- Massachusetts Community Behavioral Health Centers, which offers immediate, confidential care for mental health and substance use needs.
- Massachusetts Family Resource Centers, which are located in each of the 14 Massachusetts counties. They offer a wide range of support from education and career assistance to mental health and parenting support.
- The Parent/Professional Advocacy League, which provides information and family support to Massachusetts parents and caregivers to support children's mental health.
After twenty-five years as a mental health provider, the best advice I can give is to trust your gut.
If you are worried someone you know or care about is struggling, reach out to them to offer support and connect them to something or someone. Let them know you care about them and support them — this is the most important step of all.