Partnering with Schools: Helping Parents Support Youth Mental Health

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Just like ensuring their teeth or joints are healthy, mental health is also a key piece of maintaining your child’s overall well-being. And while many parents agree that mental health is important, it’s not always clear how to best support your child’s mental health or what to do when they’re struggling.

If you’re not sure where to start, you’re not alone. Proactively supporting children’s mental health is an ongoing and unique process for all families. As your trusted partner in the journey, Partners for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) is meeting parents where they are by partnering with schools to provide resources and trainings.

“Change can be hard, but knowing there is someone with you can be a big difference, mentally and physically.”

Anonymous youth

Resources For Parents to Support Youth Mental Health

PCMH partners with Colorado K-12 schools to offer a variety of age-appropriate trainings for parents to help them hone skills and access the resources they need to best support their child’s mental health needs. Through these sessions, parents will gain a deeper understanding of challenges youth are facing today and equip themselves with knowledge and resources to talk about and support their child’s mental health.

Together, we can help create a future where all children have the mental health care and support they need to thrive – starting at home. If your school is interested in offering trainings to your parent population, connect with us today to learn more about partnering.

Parent Training Opportunities

A variety of trainings are available for K-12 schools to support parents in learning skills and accessing the resources they need to best support their child’s unique mental health journey.

Supporting Youth Through Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can appear at any time, impacting children’s lives in different ways. In this workshop, parents will gain a fundamental understanding of how stress and anxiety can manifest in youth of different ages and learn the signs to help identify when a child needs support. Parents will receive a set of practical tools to foster a safe environment for open communication and learn strategies to help youth – and themselves – cope with stress and anxiety.

Fostering Wellbeing and Connection with Your Child

With the challenges facing children today, youth need support from parents now more than ever before. This session will promote ideas and foster discussion about ways to encourage wellbeing and resiliency for children as they grow. Parents will also learn strategies to foster connection, communicate their support, approach difficult conversations, and navigate challenging situations.

Growing Up Is Hard: How to Plan Ahead

Children face many changes and difficulties growing up, but they don’t have to do it alone. In this workshop, parents will learn tips to normalize and talk about mental health in their home while reducing potential feelings of shame or embarrassment. Parents will also learn to recognize signs that might indicate youth need support, in addition to learning how to create a preventative support plan with their child to use when difficult situations come up.

Tackling Life Transitions

During a youth’s life there are many big periods of transitions, whether starting at a new school year, moves, family dynamic changes and evolving friendships. This session will give parents strategies to prepare for changes, support their children through transitions as they happen and instill resiliency and confidence in youth as they navigate big life changes.

Navigating Resources: How to Access Mental Health Care

A wide variety of resources are available to support children’s mental health but knowing where to start can feel daunting. This workshop will give parents a better understanding of how to identify and find the resources that fit their child’s unique needs. Parents will also come away from this session with deeper insights on how to advocate and be a voice for their youth.

Social Media and Mental Health

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of content and engagement at our fingertips on social media. In this session, parents will learn more about the realities and impacts of social media on youth mental health. Parents will learn tips for implementing practical approaches with their child, having open conversations about the realities of social media and developing a social media plan for their family.

Parent holding their child's hands

“In my mind, a parent’s role in supporting youth mental health is to act as the unwavering support system that the youth can fall back on.”

Anonymous youth

Meet the Trainers

Trainer Haley Bierk M.Ed.

Haley Bierk, LPCC, M.Ed.

Haley (she/her) joined the PCMH team after four years of working as a school counselor. She has experience working with students at each K-12 grade level and enjoys helping children and parents navigate periods of transition throughout this time of life by building connections and resiliency. Haley has a passion for supporting military families and students with disabilities and helping families and school districts navigate mental health needs of youth. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and her master’s degree in Counselor Education from Augusta University. Haley is dually licensed with an LPCC (licensed professional counselor candidate) school counseling license. Outside of work, Haley is soaking up time with her two little boys, her husband and their husky.

Trainer Sherry Burkhard BSN, RN

Sherry Burkhard, BSN, RN

Sherry (she/her) is a licensed registered nurse, with experience working in multiple psychiatric settings and levels of mental health care. Sherry previously co-founded and served as the executive director of a Texas nonprofit focused on helping families and community members navigate resources and education for mental health and addiction recovery. She also hosted a podcast that provided personal stories, practical tools and professional insight into mental health. Sherry is passionate about improving experiences and outcomes for youth and families around mental health through education and advocating for family informed systems. Sherry received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University. When Sherry is not working, she is hiking, curling up with a good book, writing or spending time with her partner and their two young adult children.

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