“[Kids] have been
disconnected from
services they may
have been getting
and we’re seeing
the impacts of that.”
-Robyn Knecht, school counselor
LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / ADOBE STOCK
groups, backgrounds, genders or environ-
ments, she says.

Sussan Nwogwugwu, the lead psychiatric
mental health nurse practitioner at Done.,
a virtual platform for ADHD treatment,
impresses the importance of noticing signs
early so intervention can begin.

If mental health problems aren’t treated
they can significantly affect children’s educa-
tion and personal lives. By getting your child
the help they need early on their self-esteem
can improve, along with their overall mood
regulation, she says.

health center in Bethesda, which she opened
with local resident, Shahzad Dastgir this
summer. It’s the first of six locations slated
for Montgomery County.

What drew Dastgir to the franchise was
the “authentic, fun and interactive way that
Ellie provides mental health services,” she
says in a news release. With a comfortable
environment that feels more like a friends
house or a family home, it doesn’t have to be
intimidating. Eggers’ services take comfort even one
step further and does provide service in the
comfort of the family home. Founded with
LOOK ING TO MOM AND DAD
her daughter Rebecca, Eggers’ telehealth
It might be hard for a child to have the cour- service focuses on providing mental care to
age to ask for help or even let their parent children ages 0-14 and the entire family.

know they are struggling. Parents can help
by setting a good example in how they care PR E VE NTATIVE ME ASUR E S
Of course, parents also don’t need to wait to
for their own mental health.

“A lot of people see asking for help as a sign respond to mental health concerns. There
of weakness, but really it’s a sign of strength. are ways to be proactive in creating a posi-
tive environment for your child.

Parents can model that,” Knecht says.

Some basic tips from Egger, who is a
Parents should let their kids know that
going to a counselor doesn’t make them weak parent herself, for providing a solid foun-
and won’t get them in trouble. According to dation for your child’s mental health are to
Knecht, parents can model positive behav- make sure they have a regular bedtime, set
ior by talking about their own feelings and clothes and school supplies out the night
before and have a regular, special way to say
thoughts and sharing what helps them.

“Respond in a caring and supportive way goodbye in the morning.

For families who need extra support in
to get your child the help they need,” Knecht
said, “When you have a broken arm you go to managing day-to-day family life, home-based
the doctor, it’s the same for mental health.” community programs that take a whole-fam-
Families can even go to therapy together. ily approach can be beneficial.

Philadelphia-based Intercultural [Family
Many treatment centers offer family ther-
apy, a chance to be with your child each step Based Mental Health Services takes a holistic
of the way. One such place is Miller’s mental approach to serving youth ages 15-21 who are
living with families or caregivers and dealing
with serious emotional disturbances.

Families work together with Youth
Empowerment Trauma Resiliency Teams
for eight months in the home, school and
community setting.

Finding community resources that work
for your family can take a lot of the pressure
off doing everything right.

That’s what Raena, a first-time mother
in the Frederick area, expressed when she
shared her experience working with Healthy
Families Frederick on the program’s website.

“I’ve been a part of Healthy Families
since July of 2019. I was a new mom back
then, and I was scared,” she writes. “Healthy
Families means so much to me, being a
single mother. I didn’t want to make any
mistakes, but as we all know that’s impossi-
ble not to make mistakes. I wanted to be the
best parent I could be for my daughter.”
The program, a service from the Mental
Health Association of Frederick County,
was designed specifically to help first-time
parents through family-centered services.

It has served more than 300 families in the
past 11 years.

The program’s description drives home
the important role these services can play in
childhood—and in adult mental health:
“A child’s experiences in their earliest
years can lay the foundation for health and
well-being throughout their entire lives. A
safe, healthy, and positive childhood can
give children the tools and confidence they
need to become self-sufficient, success-
ful adults.” n
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