Mental health among adolescents has been a growing topic. It has always been on the forefront, but since the pandemic, mental health issues in adolescents have been on the rise. East Guernsey is working hard to support this within our buildings by providing safe schools and supportive environments. We do our best to link students with mental health services when the situation arises. We are providing Social Emotional Learning and are training staff to better handle certain situations. As a parent, you might wonder what you can do to help support your adolescent at home. Here are some tips:

• Spend time with your adolescent enjoying shared activities
• Volunteer at their school
• Communicate regularly with their teachers and administrators
• Openly and honestly communicate values 
• Provide supervision and coach adolescents through their decision-making process (ask many questions and allow them to make their own conclusions based on their answers)
• Help with homework and provide a structured and loving environment
• Reach out to your child’s school counselor to obtain more resources

Here are some websites that can also help:

• www.medlineplus.gov (Teen mental health)
• www.cdc.gov (Mental health in childhood and overall mental health)

Mental health is just as important as physical health and should be acknowledged and supported.