One thing I am very passionate about is mental health. Having a healthy mind and headspace is so important when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. The discussion of mental health can sometimes be taboo, although we should shift away from feeling that way.
When researching articles on the Center for Health Journalism’s website, I came across an article relating to the COVID-19 pandemic about children’s needs and mental health amid the pandemic. Being someone who is not a parent, it was never really something I gave much thought before reading this article. Now, after reading the article, I realize how crucial this situation is and why mental health experts are focusing their time on this topic.
Throughout the article, mental health experts explained various ways that parents can help their children understand and cope through these unprecedented times. Some advice includes creating and maintaining a routine, help their children understand what’s going on in an age-appropriate way, don’t spend all your time focusing on the pandemic, let children socialize while being physically distant, such as FaceTime, and look for silver linings in every situation possible.
I thought these key points were really important for parents, especially since this is something new to all of us in our lifetime. The article states that, “Children are like sponges… Children and teens observe how we respond and will remember how we cope”.
Children’s mental health is just as important as teens, adults, and elders. Often times things go unnoticed because they can’t always communicate their feelings the way adults can. It’s important for parents to be able to take some time with their children to make sure they are feeling safe and understanding why we’re doing the things we are doing.
Mark Reinecke, a psychologist and clinical director of the Child Mind Institute in San Mateo, California, left us with this statement,
“Social distancing has made us closer,” he said. “There is a sense of families coming together.”
Alayna Kelty 
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