June - Mental Health
Parent Resources
10 Tips for a Happier Teen. Check out this video I made awhile back about how you can help your teen be happier.
Parent Teen Night Ideas
Go out in nature. Talk a walk up through the leaves, go to a park, go on a hike or bike ride, etc.
To Overcome Challenges, Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
When Dean Furness lost the use of his legs in an accident, he discovered a new mindset and started competing only with himself. This 12-minute talked is filled with hope and encouragement.
10 Signs Your Mental Health is Getting Worse
This 9 minute Psych2Go clip talks about 10 warning signs of poor mental health.
10 Top Tips to Improve Your Mental Health -
this really quick video gives ten tips. Have a piece of paper ready and have each person write down a couple they want to try. Make a specific plan for how to do so.
The Science of Well-Being for Teens - this is a longer course from Yale but it’s fantastic!! You could watch it over time.
Plan something fun to do as a family. Even knowing something fun is coming can improve our moods.
Conversation Starters
Tell your teen about a time you struggled with your mental health.
Share this definition of mental health by Dr. Lisa Damour, “Mental health is not based off of whether or not you ‘feel good.’ Mental health is about having the right feeling at the right time in the correct context then managing that feeling effectively.” Which parts of that do you struggle with? Which parts does your teen?
Discuss what it means to have a mental illness. Regularly experiencing negative emotions does not mean you have one, if you can manage them and they resolve. Mental illnesses happen when those emotions are not manageable and start to affect your daily life.
Discuss the early warning signs of mental illness.
Go through my packet To the Teens: Understanding Emotions with them. It’s available for $2.99 in my store.
Mental Health Assessment - a checklist to take with your teen
things to watch out for:
1. Persistent sadness, irritability, or emotional numbness. If your teen seems down, angry, or emotionally flat most days for more than two weeks, it could be a sign of depression or another mood disorder.
2. Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy. Quitting clubs, sports, hobbies, or avoiding friends may signal more than a shift in interests—it can reflect burnout, social anxiety, or emotional withdrawal.
3. Major changes in eating or sleeping habits. Oversleeping, insomnia, loss of appetite, binge eating, or sudden weight changes are often physical symptoms of emotional distress.
4. Isolation or withdrawal from family and friends. All teens need space, but if your teen consistently avoids connection, never leaves their room, or seems disconnected even when they’re with others, it may point to depression or anxiety.
5. Drop in school performance or motivation. This is a big one! Falling grades, missed assignments, and giving up on goals can signal emotional struggles, executive functioning issues, or a loss of hope.
6. Expressions of worthlessness, hopelessness, or self-hate. Statements like “I’m a burden,” “No one would miss me,” or “I can’t do anything right” should always be taken seriously, even if it’s said casually.
7. Risky or self-destructive behavior. Sudden recklessness, substance use, self-harm, or other dangerous behaviors can be signs of emotional pain or a cry for help.
8. Increased anxiety, panic attacks, or irrational fears. Ongoing worry that interferes with sleep, focus, or daily functioning could indicate an anxiety disorder or trauma response.
9. Overwhelm with daily tasks. If even small things (getting ready, turning in homework, responding to messages) feel impossible, it could reflect emotional overload.
10. Talking about death, disappearing, or not wanting to exist. Even subtle comments like “I wish I could just disappear” are red flags. Always take this seriously and seek professional support immediately if suicide is mentioned or implied.