Do you have a kid in your social circle who’s struggling with mental health issues? This free online tool may be just right for you
Did you know that only 20 per cent of children that need help with mental health actually receive that support? This is an alarming statistic, particularly for those of us with young people in our lives that we want to see succeed. But the good news is every adult has the ability to support kids with building mental wellness and resilience.
Kids are already talking about mental health, and as adults, we need to know how to engage in these conversations in ways that help children and youth with their mental health concerns. It’s all about learning—and putting into action—the right skills. But knowing what to say when we recognize behaviours like anxiety, sadness, or self-harm among the young people in our lives isn’t always obvious.
That’s why United Way and J5 partnered with several local organizations to create the Natural Supports Simulation—a free online tool that helps adults build skills to support children and youth with mental wellness.
Designed to help anyone who is a natural support (a parent, caregiver, relative, teacher, coach, mentor, or friend of the individual in need), the free 20-minute tutorial helps adults navigate a variety of conversations around mental health, with the intent of providing support to the one in need. After completing the simulation, the user receives information on how to build supportive skills as well as a list of resources available to support mental health concerns.
The Natural Supports Simulation is desktop and mobile-friendly and can be accessed at https://naturalsupportsyyc.com/ at no cost.
United Way of Calgary and Area brings together donors, corporations, agencies, and government to solve complex issues and improve the lives of more than 150,000 people every year. Since 1940, United Way has supported agencies that assist vulnerable Calgarians. Today, United Way invests in programs and collaborations with common outcomes, brings people together to coordinate systems change, and designs solutions that address root causes to create lasting social change.
