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Supporting youth mental health and well-being
By Courtney Still Brown
The University of Georgia
Whether going back to school
means in-person or distance
learning for the young people in
your life, it’s a good time to remember
to prioritize mental
health. COVID-19 has impacted
the lives of young people in
many ways, and mental health is
no exception.
A recent survey commissioned
by the National 4‐H Council and
conducted by the Harris Poll
found that 7 in 10 teens are
struggling with their mental
health in the wake of COVID-19.
More than half of the teens surveyed
indicated that the pandemic
has increased their
feelings of loneliness.
To help youth cope with stress,
the National Council for Behavioral
Health recommends maintaining
a routine, staying
physically active, and limiting
time spent watching or reading
news and using social media.
Instead, encourage youth to express
or channel their feelings
through creative outlets. For
younger children, this could be
done through drawings or short
stories. Journaling, playing music
or creating art can be good outlets
for older youth. It can also be
helpful for youth to stay connected
to others and talk about
feelings or anxiety with those
they trust.
Set the foundation for a good
routine with good sleep. Middle
and high schoolers need about
eight to 10 hours of sleep per
night.
Parents should model good nutrition,
physical and social activities
in behavior and language.
Avoid using food as a reward or
physical activity as a punishment.
While many of the usual programs,
sports or clubs that youth
participate in right now may look
different, the social and emotional
support that these activities
and relationships provide are
still important. Encourage youth
in your family to participate in activities
they are interested in,
even if they are remote or different
than normal.
Your local 4-H program is also a
great place to get or stay involved.
For information on the
current status of programs in
your area, contact your local University
of Georgia Cooperative
Extension office by visiting extension.uga.edu/county-offices.
The following are a few mental
health resources for parents and
youth.
• MentalHealth.gov: Strategies
for parents and caregivers to talk
about mental health with children
and youth are available at
www.mentalhealth.gov/talk/parents-caregivers.
• Mental Health America of
Georgia: This organization offers
a range of resources and information
available throughout the
state of Georgia at www.mhageorgia.org/covid19.
• Mental Health First Aid: Resources
to help people care for
their own and their loved one’s
mental health are available at
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/20
20/03/how-to-bethedifferencefor-people-with-mental-healthconcerns-during-covid-19.
Resources to help teens cope
during COVID-19 can be found
at www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org-
/2020/04/tips-to-help-teenscope-during-covid-19.
• Georgia Crisis and Access
Line: For immediate access to
routine or crisis services, please
call the Georgia Crisis and Access
Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-
4225. GCAL is available 24
hours a day, seven days a week
and 365 days a year to help you
or someone you care for in a crisis.
GCAL can also help you to
access a state-funded provider
in your area for non-emergencies
as well. Georgia youth can
access GCAL’s services via text
and chat through an app called
My GCAL, which became available
for download in late January
2019. Developed by Behavioral
Health Link, the app will allow
youth to call, text or chat with
GCAL at any time. For more information,
visit www.georgiacollaborative.com/providers/georgia
-crisis-and-access-line-gcal.
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