Parenting in today’s fast-paced, social media-driven world continually presents new challenges, especially when it comes to children’s mental health and wellness. A recent Surgeon General advisory acknowledged this fact, noting that for the 63 million Americans who are parents, many face disproportionate amounts of stress.
There’s also a constant stream of advice and evolving parenting philosophies that can fan flames of overwhelm and leave parents and caregivers questioning their abilities, making it critical that healthcare providers acknowledge the profound stress parents and caregivers face. When their children’s mental health is at stake, that stress often intensifies, and since caregivers are partners in their child’s care, supporting them not only benefits their well-being but directly impacts the success of their children’s mental health treatment.
The role of caregivers and parents in mental healthcare
Parents and caregivers are integral to a child’s mental health journey. However, just like in the airplane safety analogy of “putting on your oxygen mask first,” caregivers must prioritize their well-being in order to support their child or children effectively. When parents and caregivers neglect their own mental and physical health – whether due to stress, societal pressure, or the overwhelming demands of caregiving – it can undermine their ability to be effective partners in their child’s care.
Healthcare providers play a critical role in helping caregivers recognize potential imbalances. Encouraging caregivers to access resources for self-care and respite isn’t just a nicety, it’s a clinical necessity. Stress, exhaustion, and self-neglect can impact their ability to collaborate on care and their emotional availability, which can directly affect a child’s progress in therapy. By guiding parents toward self-care and offering insights on tangible support systems, providers can enhance overall outcomes for both the child and the caregiver.
Boosting emotional bandwidth and practicing self-forgiveness
Parents and caregivers often struggle with consistency in supporting their children’s mental health journey, especially when they are overwhelmed by their own emotional and physical exhaustion. As healthcare providers, your validation of these experiences can help parents and caregivers build emotional bandwidth. Consider offering tips for setting small, manageable goals, practicing mindfulness, and encouraging self-compassion. Providers can also remind parents that being a good caregiver does not mean being a perfect one. Inconsistent moments will happen, and practicing self-forgiveness can help caregivers remain resilient and available for their children. It can go a long way in keeping caregivers engaged without making them feel like they are failing, and help them recover from challenging days so they can continue reinforcing essential therapeutic strategies for their child without guilt.
Navigating social media noise
Parenting in today’s digital age brings an entirely new dynamic to the experience of raising a family. Social media can offer an endless array of advice and philosophies, leading parents to doubt their choices or parenting tactics. Healthcare providers can play a critical role in helping caregivers become critical consumers of online content by encouraging parents to reflect on the sources of information they encounter and encourage them to set boundaries with social media. This is another strategy to reduce stress and increase their ability to focus on their well-being.
Validating the caregiver experience
It’s essential to recognize that many caregivers today often carry the weight of not only their children’s mental health but also managing the needs of aging parents or other family obligations. Validating these experiences and offering avenues for support can go a long way in building trust and opening a channel for shared experiences. In this role, providers can help caregivers find community support, offer guidance on setting boundaries, and reinforce the importance of self-awareness and mindfulness. Reminding parents to prioritize themselves, even if it’s only for a few minutes each day, can help foster better long-term outcomes for the entire family.
The ecosystem of care
When it comes to providing care for a child with mental health challenges, the entire ecosystem around that child must be considered. Parents, caregivers, other family members, and more need to be healthy mentally and physically to provide the level of support children need. By empowering parents and caregivers with support, tools for self-care, validation, and practical advice, healthcare providers can help strengthen networks around the child. When we recognize and prioritize caregivers’ well-being, we deliver comprehensive, compassionate care that will help guide future generations through mental health challenges.
Photo: Flickr user makelessnoise
Kendra Read, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and Vice President of Therapy at Brightline. Previously, she served as the Director of the Mood & Anxiety Program and Director of Anxiety Programs at Seattle Children’s Hospital, as well as the Director of Psychotherapy Training at the University of Washington School of Medicine Child Psychiatry Fellowship. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her internship in pediatric psychology at Nemours Hospital for Children and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department. Dr. Read specializes in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders and OCD from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. She is highly invested in increasing access to evidence-based behavioral health interventions for youth and their families.
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