April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April 7th, 2025
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
By: the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center
While we do our best to shield children from trauma, some experiences are unavoidable—such as the loss of a loved one, heartbreak, or a natural disaster. Supporting their mental health and teaching healthy coping skills can help them navigate life’s challenges as they grow.
Here are a few tips caregivers can use to support their child’s mental health:
- Create a safe space for tough conversations. Children are less likely to open up if they feel they’ll be judged, punished, or lectured. Make it clear that it’s okay to discuss difficult topics.
- Listen more than you talk. It’s essential that your child feels seen and heard during difficult times. Listen to understand, not to respond. This helps you focus on what they’re saying, not just on what you think they need to hear.
- Validate their feelings. Resist the urge to immediately cheer them up. Instead, reinforce that it’s okay to feel sad, angry, or upset.
Pay attention to changes in behavior that may signal your child needs additional support. Beyond more obvious symptoms like mood swings, irritability, or anger, you may also notice:
- Significant changes in sleep, eating habits, or other daily routines
- Loss of interest in favorite activities or hobbies
- Increased withdrawal from friends, family, or community
- Academic struggles that seem new or more intense
- Persistent, racing thoughts or worries
- A sudden new group of friends you haven’t met before
- Reluctance or refusal to talk, even after creating a safe environment for discussion
- Obsessive focus on a goal, paired with the belief that failure would be catastrophic
- Signs of drug, alcohol, or other substance use
- Evidence of self-harm
- New or more intense sexual behavior or interests
Lastly, remember that mental health stigma still exists. Even with increased awareness, some children may avoid seeking help out of fear they’ll be judged, misunderstood, or seen as broken. If you suspect that abuse has occurred, please visit https://www.dakotacac.org/childabuse/how-to-report/ to learn what steps you should take next.