How to Have a Mental Health Check-In With Your Child

May is Mental Health awareness month. One out of every five kids has a mental health disorder that significantly affects their life, and currently only about half of those kids get treatment.

What are mental health check-ins and how can they be done effectively? Hear how Dr. Yolanda Evans, head of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, recommends connecting with your own child or teen, or another child or teen in your life, about mental health.

Dr. Evans encourages, “Talking about serious concerns like self-injury behaviors can be scary for parents, but you can start by saying, ‘Hey, I noticed some marks on your skin. Do you feel comfortable talking to me about it, or would you like to talk to somebody else about it?’”

You can read more On the Pulse.

You can also read about how Seattle Children’s has convened a coalition, Generation REACH, to reimagine pediatric mental health care so that all children, teens and families can live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives possible.