Creative new ways to enhance children's mental health

At a time when mental health is often in the news, it can be overlooked that even children as young as 5-7 years old can have conditions including anxiety, depression and behavior disorders. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 7 children ages 3-17 had a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition, increasing in prevalence to about 1 in 5 receiving mental health therapy during their teen years (ages 12-17). Even more children may be living with symptoms of mental or behavioral health conditions, but because they may not meet the criteria for a condition, they remain undiagnosed.

For many parents, this could mean worrying about your child's mental well-being and the effect poor mental health can have on their behavioral development for years to come. And since children spend so much of their time in a school setting, it's just as important for educators and school staff to support the mental and emotional well-being of children in their care.

What can parents and educators do?

The mind and the body are interdependent on one another. It's important to normalize the discussion of brain health alongside physical health, as early and as often as possible. Here are some tools parents, caregivers and educators can use to support mental and emotional stability and build resilience in young children.

1. Offer reading materials that are both educational and fun for kids

Presenting reading materials that kids can relate to around mental health issues helps children know they're not alone and teaches them ways to respond to emotions that can seem overwhelming.

Books are a great tool to discuss how to identify feelings as well as how to manage them. Priority Health, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan serving more than 1.3 million members, has published a fun new educational children's book. "Frida's Fireworks" is a book that helps promote mental health and resilience in kids. It introduces a vibrant, creative and smart young girl named Frida who is navigating the complexities of her emotional health. The storyline follows her as she navigates her first days of kindergarten, and the big, explosive feelings that result from a variety of social and emotional needs. With support from her special education teacher, Frida meets a furry four-legged friend named Scout, who non-judgmentally supports her. She also learns a self-regulation technique to help build her resilience.

The story offers a great way to encourage conversations around behavioral health, and is written by experts Charletta Dennis, MD, medical director of behavioral health at Priority Health, and Nikki Brown, PhD, school psychologist and executive director of Canines for Change. Interested parents and educators can access a free digital version of the book in English and Spanish on a dedicated website. The book and downloadable coloring pages can be found here.

"Children with social, emotional and academic challenges can find it easier to talk to and bond with an animal friend," said Dr. Dennis. "In this story, Scout offers Frida more than friendship — he provides a proven technique that helps children handle difficult emotions. This story is a fun way for kids to learn an important tool to help them regulate emotions and feel better when times are tough."

Find additional resources to help you talk to children about mental health issues on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.

2. Consider adding a trained facility dog to the team

Research shows that the presence of a trained facility dog can help reduce feelings of stress for children in a variety of settings, including schools and health care. For instance, a recently published study found that kids in an emergency room experienced a significant decrease in their feelings of anxiety after just 10 minutes with a certified dog.

Facility dogs that are expertly trained to work alongside a handler can help reduce children's stress and anxiety, leading to improvements in their academic experience and success in school.

One example of a successful facility dog program is Priority Health's Priority Pups^® program in partnership with non-profit Canines for Change. As a part of its commitment to supporting the mental health of kids, Priority Health launched the Priority Pups program to provide early intervention techniques, reduce stress and anxiety and build resilience in children.

Once facility dogs are trained to the specific needs of each institution and its patients or students, they are certified with a staff handler and work together with children to meet their specific academic, social and emotional needs.

"It has been remarkable seeing the impact that facility dogs have on school-age kids, from increasing confidence levels, improving reading and problem-solving skills, and reducing stress levels," said Nikki Brown, PhD. "Known for their loyalty and affection, dogs have a unique ability to quickly form strong bonds with people, which is why we've witnessed such success from this program in offering a sense of security and companionship for kids that need it most."

3. Practice calming methods to regulate emotions

In "Frida's Fireworks," Priority Pup Scout teaches Frida a "1-2-3" method to help regulate her emotions and calm her mind by focusing on specific senses when she's experiencing a "firework" of feelings — she can stop and ask:

1. What do I see? This helps focus the mind by searching for something concrete and visual in your environment.

2. What do I hear? Step two helps you quiet down so you can hear what's going on around you.

3. What do I feel? With this step, you concentrate on a tangible sensation your fingers or skin can touch or sense.

Reading the book with your child can be a great way to introduce the technique before a child needs to use it — with or without the help of a facility dog. The goal is to empower children to feel confident to manage their emotions as they arise.

Click here to read a digital version of the Frida's Fireworks book! Or learn more about the Priority Pups program and other efforts Priority Health is making to help improve the well-being of the community at PriorityHealth.com.