Everyday wellness
Parenting and Mental Health
Learn how to support your child’s emotional well-being, recognize when they may need help, and look after your own mental health as a parent or caregiver.
Supporting your child’s mental health
- Connect regularly, with time for relaxed conversation.
- Name and validate feelings — “It sounds like you felt left out.”
- Keep routines for sleep, meals and screen time.
- Model coping, including how you handle stress and mistakes.
- Encourage activity and friendships.
Signs a child may need support
- Persistent sadness, worry or irritability
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Declining school performance or refusal to attend
- Talk of self-harm or hopelessness — seek help right away
These signs can have many causes; a pediatrician or mental health professional can help assess what’s going on.
Getting help
Start with your child’s pediatrician or school counselor. Family therapy and child-focused therapy can help. If your child is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Caring for yourself
Parenting stress is real. Sleep, support from others, and breaks help. Postpartum depression and anxiety are common and treatable — speak with a healthcare professional if you are struggling.
When to seek professional help
Consider talking with a doctor or licensed mental health professional if symptomslast for more than two weeks, keep coming back, or make it harder to manage work, school, relationships or daily tasks. You don’t need to wait until things feel severe — getting support early often makes things easier.
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Crisis resources in other countries.
Explore care optionsReferences
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About this article
Written by
ExploreMentalHealth Editorial Team
Our editors research and write every article using government health agencies, professional medical organizations and peer-reviewed research, following our published editorial standards.
- First published
- September 16, 2026
- Last updated
- September 22, 2026
- Last medically reviewed
- Review pending