PANEL: Understanding and coping with your child’s mental health during Covid-19

08/10/20

At this point, we’ve all heard it a million times, “we are living in unprecedented times.” Covid-19 has impacted so many of us in so many different ways. Now, we are collectively facing back-to-school and determining if and how children will go back amidst this pandemic.

At BOKS, we are working to provide you with resources for all different school environments. We also wanted to take a moment to remind you that this has been a taxing experience on all of our mental health – particularly our children. Please feel free to check out our free virtual panel, “Understanding & coping with your child’s mental health during Covid-19,” which provides some helpful tips on supporting the children in your life during this tough time.

The panel featured the following physical and mental health experts:

• Elsie Taveras, Pediatrician, Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital, Clinical Epidemiologist, and Childhood Obesity Researcher
• Michelle Carter, Director of Educational Content and Programs, SHAPE America
• Daniella Land, Co-Founder and CEO (WE Integrated)
• Bo Shappell, Middle School PE Teacher, Co-Founder (WE Integrated)
• Ken Duckworth, Chief Medical Officer for the National Alliance on Medical Illness (NAMI), Medical Director for Behavioral Health at BCBSMA, and Child and Adolescents Psychiatrist

THE CONSENSUS

Structure, physical activity, and support stand to significantly decrease the harmful mental health impacts of Covid-19 on kids. Parents and educators should be alert to changes in kids’ behaviors and should not hesitate to reach out for help. At the same time, free resources, including those shared by the panelists below, are widely available to serve the wellbeing of children. BOKS is thankful to be one of these resources, along with the indispensable insights and resources shared by the panelists. To learn more, you can watch the full panel, Understanding and coping with your child’s mental health during Covid-19 here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AS DISCUSSED IN THE PANEL:

• Resilient youth program at The Benson Henry Institute: https://www.bensonhenryinstitute.org/class/resilient-youth/
• Clay Center at MGH: https://www.mghclaycenter.org/
• Center on the developing child: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/
• NCCOR compendium of physical activity resources: https://www.nccor.org/

Resources from SHAPE:

• Covid-19 Resources page: https://www.shapeamerica.org/covid19-resources.aspx
• National Standards for K-12 Physical Education & Social and Emotional Learning Competencies Crosswalk: https://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/guidelines/sel-crosswalk.aspx
• moves. minds. (SEL in Health & PE resources): healthmovesminds.org
• Emoji Rating Scale (Grades K-8)
• Daily Check-In Poster (Grades 9-12)
• Mindful parachute lesson (Grades K-5)
• Mini-lessons around screen time (Grades 9-12)
• Lessons on personal voice and influences (Grades 6-8)

In addition, if you want to support the mental health of those in need, BOKS’ partner Reebok has launched the “Keep It Clean” graphic tee, a fun reminder to wash your hands, the proceeds of which benefit the Benson-Henry Institute of Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.