NAMI Shares Fall 2022 Back to School Resources

It’s back to school time, and to help teachers, parents and students prepare and prioritize youth mental health, we have a suite of resources to share.

For Educators and Parents: Tips and Activities

For teachers, we have new resources to help talk to your students in the classroom about mental health, including:

• Activities and ideas for mental wellness moments.
• Tips for creating a classroom mental health contract.
• The Three C’s for educators to help you and your students feel comfortable talking about mental health and wellness, identify how mental health impacts our emotions and to help overcome mental health challenges by connecting empathetically.

For parents and caregivers, we have new resources to help talk to your kids about mental health, including:

• Wellness calendar daily to incorporate different activities into your everyday.
• The Three C’s to help you and your child feel supported as you talk about mental health and wellness, identify concrete support, and connect empathetically at home.
• Weekly check-in for parents/caregivers with their children.

For Kids: Meet Little Monster Coloring and Activity Book

Talking to kids about mental health can be a challenge, but it’s necessary, especially during these difficult times. “Meet Little Monster” is a coloring book that was developed to help foster dialogue between children and the adults in their lives, as well as provide children with a tool for exploring their feelings in a fun and empowering way. Help kids express their feelings in a creative way by downloading your copy today available for free in both English and Spanish.

For Teens: NAMI Ending the Silence Education Presentation

Mental health education and early intervention can make all the difference to a struggling teen. NAMI Ending the Silence makes mental health education accessible and approachable so that kids know they are not alone. NAMI Ending the Silence is offered in person by your local NAMI or online where in person presentations are not available.

The online version is identical to the in-person version, but offered exclusively via online video, accessible anytime through the Ending the Silence website.

For College Students: New Mental Health College Guide

Going to college is a big step, and big steps come with excitement, the unknown, and, usually, a healthy amount of stress. That’s not only ok, but also to be expected. And it’s the reason for this guide designed by — and for — students. This guide was made by NAMI and the Jed Foundation to help students navigate some of the life changes that come with heading off to college. Here’s a crash course in how it’s laid out:

• Check out Relationships and Self-Care for tips on how to adjust to your new living situation (even if it’s just living at home but in your new role as a college student), take care of yourself, and make and manage new relationships.
• At  Mental Health, Identity and Race, you can explore information about understanding identity, bringing your full self to campus, and mental resources and tips specific to LGBTQ students and students of color. 
• In the Self-Advocacy, HIPAA and FERPA section, there are resources that outline your rights concerning mental health and self-advocacy.
• In Taking Care of Your Mental Health, you can find information on coping with a current diagnosis in a new environment, finding and speaking with health care providers, and learning about peer groups and other support.
• Go to Staying Safe for resources on navigating any difficult situations you may face. You’ll find good info about recreational substance use and misuse, what toxicity looks like in relationships and how to help yourself or your friends avoid or manage dangerous or risky situations.