LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — As Mental Health Awareness Month shines a spotlight on well-being, experts say it’s also a good time for families to check in on something that can be easy to overlook: kids’ mental health, even for children as young as 3.
Dr. Mara Whiteside, Behavioral Health and Psychology at Arkansas Children’s, said children’s mental health has been top of mind for many parents, especially since the pandemic. Kids can be vulnerable to stress and emotional ups and downs, and mental health plays a major role in everyday life, from learning and building relationships to handling stress and growing into healthy teens and adults.
Whiteside pointed to research showing that one in five kids ages 3 to 17 has a mental, emotional or behavioral health condition. She said that’s why it’s important for parents and kids to know they’re not alone, and that strategies and professionals are available to help.
Younger children can have an especially hard time controlling emotions, which can add stress for the whole family. Whiteside said helping kids understand emotions, and helping parents learn coping tools, can make a big difference.
When it comes to healthy coping strategies, Whiteside described three main areas: self-awareness, self-soothing and social relationships. For young kids, she said simply labeling the emotion can help make it feel more manageable. She also suggested breathing techniques and mindfulness to help reduce stress, especially as kids get older and reach school age.
For school-related stress, Whiteside said visualization can help, like picturing a math test going well and imagining knowing the answers. Physical activity can also support emotional regulation, she said, including getting fresh air, stretching and moving the body.
Diet and exercise matter, too. Whiteside said there’s a strong connection between physical and mental health, noting that nutrition supports cognitive functioning and exercise can improve mood, reduce stress and boost overall emotional well-being.
With so many mental health resources online, and more tools emerging with artificial intelligence, Whiteside said families should be cautious about what they trust. She encouraged parents to look for information published by children’s hospitals, professional medical associations, universities and peer-reviewed research. She also recommended thinking about who is writing the information and what the reader is gaining from it. If questions remain, she said talking with a child’s primary care provider or another medical professional can help families sort through what they’re seeing online.
Whiteside also highlighted ongoing research at the Children’s Nutrition Center, which studies how nutrition and exercise affect maternal health and child health over time. She said the center recruits pregnant women for longitudinal studies, along with babies and school-age children, and is looking for families who want to get involved.
Families interested in participating can visit the Arkansas Children’s website, or find the center on Facebook and Instagram.