Here's a question from a principal:
"I'm a principal and loved what you said about anxiety. What else should I tell my elementary parents about mental health right now and youth?"
Thank you for being here. Thank you for showing up—it shows that you care and want to help as much as possible.
My first suggestion is to get information and education, like the ParentGuidance resources. You’ll be able to give parents lots of resources and support.
I’ll never forget one of my favorite experiences with a small rural school in Utah. They had a parent who was being difficult, but when they gave them ParentGuidance information, the parent truly appreciated it. Providing resources and saying, “This is available to people in our community,”—whether it’s from the school district or the Cook Center—can make a real difference.
Some school districts already have a lot of support, and if you’re using the site, you’ll have access to great information.
As an educator, one of the biggest needs I’ve seen—across schools all over the country, from West Virginia to Hawaii and Northern California—is support for teachers. When teachers have resources, they can pass that information along to parents and spread awareness.
One of the best things you can do is support your teachers so they know what resources and ideas are available. Then, when they interact with parents, they’ll have more confidence, and parents will have more confidence in them.
Those are some things I would start with. Again, thank you for showing up—it tells me you are deeply committed to the mental health and well-being of those you work with.
