Student Assistance Program

June

Perseverance means continuing to try even when things are hard. If your child is unfamiliar with the word, introduce it to them and share examples. After that, have your child think of a favorite character or superhero and have them share how that person preserved through a challenge. For more information and guidance on developing perseverance and other characteristics of resilience in your children, visit buildresiliency.org.

August

It’s common for children to experience an increase in worry and nervousness when returning back to school. One way to help children work through their worries is to first validate their feelings (e.g., “I understand you are worried about…”). Then help them come up with healthier thoughts about their worries (e.g., “I might not know anyone but I could meet new people that are nice.”). For this strategy to work, children need to play an active role in developing healthy thoughts so parents should avoid the temptation of offering reassurance during this time.

September

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Research shows that when youth have thoughts about suicide, talking with them about it in a caring and non-judgmental way may reduce the risk of suicide rather than increase it. Adults can also help keep youth safe by removing access to any lethal means and by connecting youth with a support network.

October

Children with healthy self-esteem have a balanced view of themselves. Specifically, they are able to recognize and accept both their strengths and weaknesses. This allows them to hold realistic expectations of themselves. One way to help children develop healthy self-esteem is to have them list or identify traits that they consider personal strengths and note some traits that might be personal weaknesses. For instance, “I am good at writing but am not very artistic.”

November

Practicing positive psychology can help develop happiness and resiliency. Positive psychology focuses on building and developing good aspects of our lives rather than exploring and understanding problems. Once a week, perhaps during mealtime or car rides, caregivers and children can discuss one of the prompts below.

• Talk about something nice you did this week.
• Share an accomplishment you are proud of for the week.
• Describe how someone showed you kindness this past week.
• Explain the best part of your week.

December

When done correctly, deep breathing can be an effective tool for reducing stress.  This is because deep and slow breathing can actually improve pulmonary gas exchange, slow the heart rate, and even lower blood pressure. The correct way to engage in deep breathing is to inhale as deeply as possible through your nose (filling the belly with air), hold the breath for a few seconds, and then slowly exhale out through the mouth (ensuring the breath out is longer than the breath in). Practice deep breathing for one minute daily to maximize its effectiveness.  

January

When children feel something is very challenging, it is normal for them to struggle with motivation. In other words, if a goal feels unattainable, it is difficult to put forth effort to achieve it. One way to help foster motivation in children is to build their confidence in their ability to make changes. This can be done by identifying smaller, more attainable goals. For instance, instead of “pull up your grade in math class;” “complete three online assignments for your class this week.”

March

Sometimes when we encounter personal challenges, we can become critical of ourselves. Research demonstrates that those who practice self-compassion, however, can be more resilient and have better coping skills. To practice self-compassion, respond to yourself in the same way that you would if a loved one shared a problem they are experiencing.  Provide yourself with empathy, validate the difficult time you are experiencing, and then provide yourself with grace, understanding, and kindness.

April

Sometimes we experience difficult emotions like worry or sadness because we are thinking negatively about a situation. By asking ourselves questions about the thoughts we are having, we can engage in healthier thinking and, in turn, improve our feelings. 

Some good questions to ask yourself when you are thinking negatively include:

• What is the evidence for and against what I am thinking?
•  Am I basing my thoughts on facts or opinions?
• Might other people interpret the same situation differently?
•  Am I considering all aspects of the situation or only focusing on the negative aspects?
• What are other ways to think about the situation? Are there alternate interpretations of the event?  

May

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in children and teens. By teaching children and teens coping skills, we can empower them to take charge of their mental health. Good mental health increases the ability of children and teens to practice self-care and face challenges with resilience. Learning to spot the early warning signs of mental health problems and providing early intervention can also improve outcomes. You can learn more about mental health and early warning signs at samhsa.gov/mental-health. #MHAM2025