Taking care of your child’s mental health during COVID-19
If your child is having an emergency, dial 911. If your child needs crisis support, call 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247).
| Listen and respond |
- Listen to your child’s feelings, questions, and concerns
- Respond to your child’s cues
- Make sure your children know you are ready to talk; set aside time just for them
- Help your child identify and name their feelings
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| Be patient and understanding |
- Be patient and calm, this helps your child to be calm
- Notice that your child’s feelings may express as changes in their behaviour
- Expect that your child may become more easily frustrated or do things they did at younger ages
- Be understanding of your child’s behaviour
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| Validate and support |
- Let your child know that what they are feeling is okay
- Say your child’s feelings back to them from their point of view
- Reassure your child with love and touch
- Help your child feel safe
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| Answer questions, keep it simple |
- Answer your child’s questions about COVID-19 truthfully
- Keep your answers simple and age-appropriate, with clear information on reducing risk
- Get information from reliable sources
- Limit your child’s exposure to news and adult conversations
Links to help talk to kids about COVID-19
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| Keep a flexible routine |
- Routines help your child know what to expect and help them feel more secure
- Have regular bed times and make sure your child gets enough sleep
- Provide a variety of healthy food choices every day
- Build fun into the day, balance school work with free play, outside exercise, and relaxation
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| Stay connected |
- It is important for your child to stay connected with family and friends
- Set up video calls for your child to see their loved ones
- Help your child to call or message family and friends
- Understand that it can be hard for your child to not see friends and family in person
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Get more support when needed – Child mental health services
If your child is having an emergency, dial 911. If your child needs crisis support, call 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247).
- Black Youth Helpline – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day; National helpline for Canadian youth and families
Call: 1-833-294-8650
Email: info@blackyouth.ca
- Front Door – 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, local, free crisis and mental health counselling and support for children and youth (up to 18 yrs)
Call: 519-749-2932
- Good2Talk – 24/7, free, Provincial post secondary (17-25 years) – mental health support
Call: 1-866-925-5454
Text: GOOD2TALKON to 686868
- Here 24/7 – One stop access and referral to crisis, mental health, and addiction services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Region
Call: 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247)
- Kids Help Phone / Wellness Together – 24/7, free, National children’s (17-25 years) – mental health support
Call: 1-888-668-6810 (Youth)
Text: WELLNESS to 686868 (Youth)
- OK2BME – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, local, free, confidential counselling and support services for kids and teens wondering about their sexuality and gender identity
Call: 519-884-0000 x222
Online request for counselling: Intake form
E-mail: ok2bme@kwcounselling.com
More child and parent mental health COVID-19 resources
| Supporting child mental health during COVID-19 resources |
- Children and Youth Planning table of Waterloo Region COVID-19 Resources for Children, Youth, and Families – Local community-wide partnership of service providers, researchers, planning and funding bodies serving children, youth and families providing list of COVID-19 resources
- Children’s Mental Health Ontario: COVID-19 Resources – Provincial website representing Ontario’s publicly funded child and youth mental health services providing resources, advocacy, service coordination
- Family Compass Waterloo Region - Access to local community-based services and supports for parents, youth and children
- Jack.org – National youth-focused mental health resources hub
- Mindyourmind.ca - Provincial young adult (14-29 years) focused interactive tools and resources for improving mental health, wellness, capacity and resilience
- School Mental Health Ontario: How to support your child’s mental health during COVID-19 – Provincial evidence based mental health information and support for families and schools
- Waterloo Catholic District School Board – Local school board website with mental health resources and support strategies for parents and caregivers during COVID-19
- Waterloo Region District School Board – Local school board website with mental health resources and support strategies for parents and caregivers during COVID-19
- Waterloo Region District School Board Parenting Essentials Video Series – Local school board partnering with Parents for Children’s Mental Health to provide webinars to support kids in coping with intense emotions
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| Parenting during COVID-19 resources |
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