D99 Parents and Guardians,
As 2020 comes to a close and we look with hope to 2021, we’d like to remind you that winter break can bring a variety of celebrations and challenges for adolescents. This year, more than ever, it’s helpful to keep a watchful eye on your teen to ensure that they are staying safe and healthy and getting support if they need it. Earlier today, we shared this poster with our students which includes ideas and resource links for fun Winter Break activities.
In addition, here are some great ways to encourage wellness and self-care for your teen this winter break:
As a family:
- Reflect on what went well this semester, what the challenges were, and how you faced them.
- Set goals for next semester/next year
- Prepare a family meal; try a new recipe
- Play a board game or do a puzzle
- Take a walk or try a fun exercise video together
- Work together to do something kind for a friend, family member, or neighbor
Encourage your teen to:
- Connect safely with peers
- Disconnect from social media and electronics regularly
- Stay physically active
- Take time to do things they enjoy
We know that isolation, changes to schedules, and other challenges and stressors can have an impact on teens’ mental health. Here are signs and symptoms of mental health issues to watch for in your teen:
- Feeling sad or down
- Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
- Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
- Problems with alcohol or drug use
- Major changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Excessive anger, hostility or violence
- Suicidal thinking
If you’re concerned about your teen’s mental health or safety, please use the following resources:
- North High Community Mental Health Resources
- South High Community Mental Health Resources
- grit2, Growing Resiliency in Teens Together
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: call or text 1-800-213-TALK
We hope you all have a restful, healthy holiday season, and we look forward to welcoming students back in 2021!
Keith Bullock, DGN Student Assistance Coordinator, kbullock@csd99.org
Diana Benoist, DGS Student Assistance Coordinator, dbenoist@csd99.org