Mental Wellness Month: Promoting Mental Health for Families and Children 

 

 

Mental Wellness Month: Promoting Mental Health for Families and Children 

Written by Erin Bader

 

January has been designated as Mental Wellness Month to recognize the critical importance of addressing mental health. Mental wellness is the ability to manage life’s stresses, adapt to change, and navigate difficult times successfully. The National Institutes of Health provides practical tips for promoting wellness, including building resilience, reducing stress, coping with loss, and strengthening social connections.  

 

The Center on the Developing Child’s paper addresses the impact of addressing mental wellness on a child’s development. The science of early childhood development highlights that the foundation for mental health is established early in life through experiences that shape the developing brain. Relationships with parents, caregivers, teachers, and peers play a critical role in social, emotional, and cognitive development. While cognition and language receive significant attention, addressing emotional and behavioral difficulties early is crucial, as these issues can hinder learning and relationships. The emotional and behavioral needs of children are best met through coordinated services that focus on their full environment of relationships.  

 

Significant mental health problems can emerge in young children and often reflect early abuse, neglect, or prolonged adversity. These experiences, combined with genetic predispositions, can prime stress systems and lead to lasting physical and mental health issues. However, genetics interact with the environment, and supportive interventions can mitigate the effects of early stress, promoting better developmental outcomes and preventing lifelong challenges. So, for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system, promoting mental wellness is essential and may require additional strategies and support. Child welfare and mental health professionals play a key role in this process. Adoption competent mental health services highlight the importance of professionals building partnerships with youth and their families—a process that requires vulnerability, authenticity, mutual trust, patience, and flexibility. 

 

As families work to address and heal from the adversity associated with child welfare involvement, child welfare and mental health professionals can implement strategies to promote mental wellness for both children and their parents. Effective interventions should include parents, as they provide a foundation of security and love that helps children feel cherished and develop hope for the future. When children understand they are valued, they gain self-worth and confidence, empowering them to face challenges. Parents are instrumental in teaching children that life is about thriving, not just surviving, and reaching their full potential. 

 

Strategies to Promote Mental Wellness in Children and Youth 

• Create routine and structure to provide stability and predictability. 

• Encourage open communication about their experiences, allowing them to set the pace. 

• Support their unique identity and help them embrace what makes them special. 

• Validate their emotions, including grief, loss, anger, and confusion. 

• Teach self-regulation skills to help them manage emotions and stay calm. 

• Foster a safe environment where they can freely express themselves. 

• Promote healthy stress management through physical activity, creative outlets, mindfulness, or hobbies. 

• Engage in activities that strengthen family connections and build positive memories. 

• Encourage involvement in activities where they can excel and feel accomplished. 

• Seek adoption-competent services when needed. 

• Connect with support groups or other families to create a sense of community and shared understanding. 

 

Strategies to Promote Mental Wellness in Parents 

• Help parents understand and foster their child’s sense of belonging and connection. 

• Use adoptive parent competencies to enhance parents’ ability to meet their child’s needs. 

• Teach parents to avoid personalizing their child’s behaviors or emotions. 

• Provide strategies to support identity development and self-esteem. 

• Strengthen parents’ resilience so they can model healthy coping skills for their children. 

• Encourage healthy relationship-building between parent partners through mutual respect, communication, and problem-solving. 

 

By integrating these strategies, families can strengthen their mental wellness and build a foundation for thriving together.