Resources for Parents
Welcome to the parent section of the Learning Center. As a parent or caregiver, supporting your child’s mental health is an important responsibility, and we’re here to provide resources and guidance. From understanding common mental health challenges to learning how to discuss difficult topics, these tools are designed to help you nurture your child’s well-being and build resilience as a family.
General Mental Health Resources
Tuolumne County Community Resource Guide 2023
A comprehensive guide to local services, programs, and support networks available for families in Tuolumne County.
Is This Just a Stage?
An article to help parents distinguish between normal developmental behavior and signs that may require attention.
Teen Mental Health is in Crisis: What Can Parents Do?
An overview of the teen mental health crisis and practical steps parents can take to provide support.
Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids
A series of free videos and print resources with practical, evidence-based information and skills to address your most common parenting challenges.
Kids, Teens, and Young Adults
A resource hub from NAMI, focused on mental health information for youth and families.
BrightLife Kids
Personalized support for California families. Kids ages 0–12 get free, expert coaching for sleep issues, worry, social skills, and more.
Understanding Depression & Anxiety in Children
Childhood Depression: What Parents Need to Know
A guide to understanding depression in children, including symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Depression in Children and Teens
Detailed information on recognizing and addressing depression in young people.
What to Do (and Not to Do) When Children Are Anxious
Tips for helping children manage anxiety, with do’s and don’ts for effective support.
When Your Child’s Anxiety is Worth Worrying About—and How to Help
Guidance on recognizing serious anxiety and finding ways to support your child.
Helping Your Child Manage Anxiety
Strategies for teaching children coping mechanisms to handle anxiety in a healthy way.
What parents can do to help a teen who is dealing with anxiety and/or depression
This video offers expert advice from Dr. Beurkens on supporting teens with anxiety and depression, highlighting empathy, open communication, and healthy coping strategies.
Self-Care for Parents
Preventing Parent Burnout
Tips for parents on managing stress and avoiding burnout while caring for children.
Understanding Specific Mental Health Conditions
Bipolar Disorder in Children
An introduction to bipolar disorder in children, with information on symptoms and support strategies.
- Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
- Bipolar Disorder In Children – Mental Health America
Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teenagers: What Parents Should Look For
Like many mental health conditions, bipolar disorder often begins in the teenage years, but goes undiagnosed until young adulthood. This may mean that teens may suffer with symptoms for years. In this video, psychiatrist Marc Lener, MD, explains the different symptoms of bipolar disorder and how they may look different in teenagers than in adults.
Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms
Do you sometimes have sudden attacks of anxiety and overwhelming fear that last for several minutes? Maybe your heart pounds, you sweat, and you feel like you can’t breathe or think clearly. Do these attacks occur at unpredictable times with no apparent trigger, causing you to worry about the possibility of having another one at any time?
Quick Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a children’s mental health diagnosis that is characterized by a pattern of defiant and uncooperative behavior toward authority figures.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real disorder that develops when a person has experienced or witnessed a scary, shocking, terrifying, or dangerous event.
Talking About Difficult Topics
How to Talk to Children About Difficult News
Guidelines for talking to children about challenging or upsetting news events.
Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Events
How to Discuss Stressful Situations with Children
Tips for addressing difficult or stressful topics with your child in an age-appropriate way.
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Coping Tips for Traumatic Events and Disasters
Practical coping strategies for children dealing with traumatic events.
Top 10 Tips for Discussing Difficult Topics with Teens
This video offers expert advice from Dr. Beurkens on supporting teens with anxiety and depression, highlighting empathy, open communication, and healthy coping strategies.
Recognizing Symptoms & Getting Help
My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?
A self-assessment tool for recognizing signs that may require professional mental health support.
What to Watch for and How to Help
Guidance on observing symptoms in children and knowing when to seek assistance.
Youth in My Care
They may not always show it, but odds are that your child or a youth in your care wants you to take an interest in their life. Make sure they know they can “bother” you with whatever’s weighing them down.
Communicating with Your Child
Answering Your Child’s Tough Questions
Tips for responding to difficult questions from children about mental health and other topics.
How to Encourage Your Teen to Talk About Their Mental Health
Strategies for creating a safe environment where teens feel comfortable discussing mental health.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
10 Tips to Help Your Child’s Mental Health
Simple tips for parents to support and nurture their child’s mental well-being.
Getting Your Child Mental Health Support and Accommodations in School
Information on working with schools to secure mental health support and accommodations.
What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health
An overview of key elements that support healthy mental development in children.
Social Media & Mental Health
How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide
An exploration of the impact of social media on teens and how parents can manage its effects.
Social Media is Driving Teen Mental Health Crisis, Surgeon General Warns
Insights from the Surgeon General on the influence of social media on youth mental health.
Does social media negatively impact teen mental health?
The increase in teen girls feeling “sad or hopeless” from 2011 to 2021 correlates with the rise in social media during the same period, according to the CDC.