The worldwide spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought unprecedented challenges. Given the resulting disruptions to daily life, helping children cope with stress can be especially difficult. Implementation of social distancing strategies to prevent illness increases families’ stress levels even further.
In an effort to protect the mental health of children and their caregivers, we would like to remind everyone that behavioral health services are considered essential health benefits.
Examples of such services include:
- Depression screening
- Behavioral assessments
- Therapy
- Counseling
“Children may respond differently to an outbreak depending on their age.”
NCTSN’s Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
We also encourage you to download and share the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s parent/caregiver guide to help families cope with COVID-19.
The guide gives examples of children’s reactions by age group and the best ways adults can respond. Additionally, it lists self-care and coping tips for caregivers. And it urges people to seek mental health support if they are having trouble coping.