ComPsych

Back-to-School FAQs | pdf
From test taking to identifying warning signs of student violence, this resource guide can help answer some common back-to-school questions.

Back-to-School Guide | pdf
Promote a safe and healthy return to school for students of all ages.

Back to School: Off to a Good Start | pdf
Quick tips for a successful transition back to school, as well as guidance on how your Employee Assistance Program can help.

Children and Mental Health | pdf
Like physical fitness, mental fitness is important at every stage of life. This guide can help you learn how to nurture your child’s mental health.

Communicating the Tough Stuff to Your Child | video (48 min.)
It can be tough to be a teenager — and tough to be a parent of a teenager! It’s easy to be overwhelmed by stories about adolescents and violence, sex, drugs, suicides, alcohol and crime. All these concerns are very real, but most teenagers really are okay. Knowing what to expect and looking at things through your teenager’s eyes can help both of you. This webinar will review communication methods for talking to teens and the attributes of a healthy parent/teen relationship.

Emotionally Healthy Teen: Dealing with Issues of Substance Abuse, Depression, Suicide and Eating Disorders | video (63 min.)
The teenage years are a period of major social, hormonal and emotional change and can be difficult both for the teens and their families. Finding the most effective way to meet your child’s growing need for independence and increased responsibility as well as keeping them safe and healthy is a challenge for many parents. Knowing how to talk with your teen about and identifying symptoms of depression, suicide and eating disorders can help you assist your teen in navigating adolescence successfully.

Encouraging Kids to Be Active | video (49 min.)
When you see the joy a young child has on the playground, it’s hard to imagine that it may take work and encouragement from parents to keep kids active. With the growing body of research suggesting just how important physical activity is for children, especially as they get a little older, this concern has become more important than ever. Explore the barriers that stand in the way of keeping kids active and get tips on how to overcome the challenge.

Engaging in Creative Play with Children | video (59 min.)
Examines how creative play benefits children in their cognitive, social and emotional development and how engaging in creative play benefits adults stress relief, self-esteem and problem-solving skills.

No Such Thing as a “Perfect Parent” | video (52 min.)
In an effort to be perfect, new parents will frequently try too hard to protect their child from any adverse experiences or go to great lengths in an attempt to please their children. This type of well-intended “perfect parenting” can lead to unanticipated problems. This webinar addresses those problems and suggests ways to let go of perfection and seek a balanced parenting approach.

Promoting Acceptance | pdf
Use this guide to help steer a conversation with children about how to respect and embrace others’ differences.

School’s Out: Getting Everyone through the Summer | video (28 min.)
For many working families, summer brings the challenges of balancing the demands of adult work schedules with the desire to provide safe, fun activities for children. Get ideas on summer activities and practical suggestions on how to keep your kids safe while you’re at work.

Talking to Your Child About Tough Issues Affecting the Family | video (39 min.)
As adults we face life issues (medical and mental health concerns, divorce, death and dying, financial difficulties, etc.) that often affect families. For parents, it’s important to communicate to children what’s happening in a way that provides comfort and support. This webinar looks at various issues families face and provides techniques for communicating the situation to our children in a healthy manner.

Talking to Kids About Violent Events with Widespread Media Coverage | video (41 min.)
After a terrorist attack, mass shooting or other violent event with widespread media coverage, how do you talk to children about what happened? Should you have the conversation at all, or is it better to try to shield them from the news? This webinar provides guidance on these important subjects.

Teen Depression and Suicide | pdf
During adolescence it is common for teens to be concerned with self-image and become sensitive to the slightest criticism. Some act out rebelliously against authority, including parents and teachers, and others experiment with risky behaviors, such as using illegal drugs and having unprotected sex. This guide reviews the warning signs of depression and suicide and offers tips on how to talk with your teen about suicide.

 

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Mental Health America

Online Behavior and Mental Health | pdf
Today’s tweens and younger children are growing up at a time when online spaces are just as prevalent as physical ones — and most adults need to do some catching up to understand what daily life looks like for younger people. This fact sheet reviews where and how young people spend their time online, from content to algorithms.

Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health Online | pdf
The type of content young people see affects their mental health, and unfortunately, we can’t fully protect young people from all the bad stuff. What we can do is prepare them to protect themselves and be there to help them understand what they’re seeing and hearing. This fact sheet reviews comparison, fear of missing out, body dissatisfaction, navigating misinformation, dangerous content, cyberbullying and more.

Social Media, Youth, and Comparison | pdf
With so many posts across feeds, timelines and social media apps, young people today may compare themselves and their lives to what they see on their screens. In a world where social media is unavoidable, we may not always be able to protect children from what they see online, but we can look for signs that they are struggling and provide support and resources to help them cope and be confident in themselves. This fact sheet reviews common comparison traps and what you can do.

The Distorted Mirror: Technology’s Impact on Youth Body Image | video (61 min.)
Endless scrolling through feeds and photos of celebrities, influencers, friends, classmates and strangers is all too familiar for today’s youth. But how are these images, fads, diets, exercise routines and so many other forms of content really influencing the body image and self-confidence of youth? This video suggests ways to deal with constant comparison and new challenges today’s technology can pose when considering disordered eating, body dysmorphia and general mental health struggles of youth.

Tips to Help Youth Avoid Social Comparison | pdf
Social comparison is an unfortunate part of the social media experience, but there are things you can encourage young people to do to avoid it. This fact sheet provides helpful actions to minimize social comparison from social media breaks to building self-esteem.