Mental Health Matters

The Cleveland Transformation Alliance reached out to our partner, Moore Counseling & Mediation Services, to learn more about mental health's importance—not only for our students but for parents/caregivers too.

Mental Health matters because it affects every aspect of our lives, for both the parents and child. Mental health can have major effects on a child’s development and on how they process negative or traumatic experiences, which can, in turn, stunt their emotional, mental, and cognitive development. Mental disorders among children can result in serious changes in how children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which can cause distress and problems with getting through the day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is important for parents to have heart-to-heart conversations with their children as the school year begins to help them learn and implement healthy social skills for the child, in addition to how to cope when a problem or issue arises.Impacts of the pandemic

As the world is continually modifying the way of life due to the pandemic, such as homeschooling, wearing masks, etc., our mental health can also be affected, leading to an increase in anxiety and depression. It is important to utilize a healthy routine to keep our children grounded while at school or home.

Here are tips and advice that we hope you will find useful.

Have a routine - Keep up with daily routines as much as possible.
Video games - While they can be a way to relax, they can take up more time than initially intended. Be sure to keep developing a balance of off-line and on-line activities.
Social media - Use your social media accounts to promote positive and hopeful stories. Avoid negative content.
Rest - Allocate time for school and time for resting while also getting up and going to bed at the same time every day and night.
Be Kind - Don’t discriminate against people because of your fears of the spread of the virus.

Benefits of school counselors and therapy

There are many benefits of having school counselors. School counselors are trained, certified professionals who can assist with guiding students. School counselors also provide students a safe place to gain support and help express their thoughts. School counselors are a free resource that can support both issues that teachers face and problems that students may be experiencing. They can even educate parents and assist with questions on child-related problems and/or issues.

When it might be time to seek help.

Some signs it might be time for your child to seek help include:

Normal routines are more difficult to complete.
Changes in sleep habits or appetite.
The sense of sadness and distress frequently.
Sudden withdrawal from social activities or peers
Self-destructive talk or behavior.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Moore Counseling & Mediation Services, Inc. (216) 404-1900 for a list of referrals for adolescent counseling.