Tips to support student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
1. Combat Fear with Facts– Staying home and washing our hands combats the spread of the virus. If lots of people get sick right away, we won’t have enough doctors and hospital equipment to help them.
2. Talk to them about fake news– You can give them facts, but more importantly, you can arm them with the ability to distinguish truth from rumors on the internet. The next time they get a Snapchat message saying the city is closing, we want them to ask “says who?” and you can teach them that.
3. Don’t let virtual learning add to anxiety- Consider reminding your teens about due dates more than normal. Parents can help students break down virtual learning into tangible steps, often through the same methods they did during in-person school: encouraging use of a planner or other organization system, communicating with teachers or helping your student to do so, and working on time management with your teen.
4. Encourage virtual connection-Just because students are stuck at home doesn’t mean they need to lose social connection. Some classes may offer virtual hangouts on Zoom, Teams, Instagram, and Google Hangouts. Also, high school teens can meet on their own virtually with friends and family.
5. Know the warning signs of mental health concerns– Be vigilant about mental health red flags