Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 31 Find help early The child advocacy organization Voices For Virginia's Children estimates that 1 in 5 children in the commonwealth do not receive the mental-health help they need. RACSB offers an array of mental health services for children and adolescents, and can be a first point of contact for par- ents who are concerned about their children's mental health. Reaching out for help early can be key to helping your child avoid a crisis. One place to start is RACSB's emergency ser- vices number, 540-373-6876. Warning signs include changes in mood, drops in grades, increased isolation or a loss of interest in a child's favorite activities. Still, as a parent, it can often be hard to gauge when some of these changes are more than just part of growing up. Norris says pediatricians, school counselors and other adults who see kids day in and day out can often alert parents that certain trends could be the sign of a problem. When it's time to seek the help of a mental health counselor, Barnes says one place to start is calling your insurance provider to get a list of providers in network. Professionals who treat children for mental health disorders include licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers and psychologists. Norris encourages families to try more than one session with a counselor before deciding it's not a good fit. First ses- sions are often about fact-finding and may not be a good indicator of how the relationship will evolve. Parents should also remind kids to feel safe that anything they discuss in a therapy session is confidential. Virginia and the nation are experiencing a shortage of mental health providers, so Barnes and Norris say it's important not to give up if efforts to find a counselor aren't immediately successful. "It's so important to not give up," says Norris. "Kids are going to internalize it. If the parent says, 'I called a lot of places, they aren't taking anyone—are you feeling better today?' That kind of puts the pressure on the kid to be better." Explore available resources RACSB offers a variety of services to support mental health for individuals of all ages in the Fredericksburg region. Visit rappahannockareacsb.org to learn more. RACSB offers a course called Mental Health First Aid, an 8-hour curriculum designed to help adults recognize men- tal health challenges and safely respond to an individual in crisis. Check RACSB Facebook Events page for class avail- ability. Mental Health America of Fredericksburg also has a list of area mental health providers, and can be another good starting point for parents seeking help for themselves or their children. Visit mhafred.org/helpline/ or call their HelpLine at 540-371-2704. Reading aloud with your children is another opportunity to strengthen mental health supports within your household. Below are some suggested titles. • Diane Alber's "Little Spot" series • "I Am Enough" by Grace Byers • "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig • "I like Myself" by Karen Beaumont • "Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)" by Keith Negley • "The Mindful Dragon" by Steve Herman • "In My Heart" by Jo Witek • "Listening to my Body" by Gabi Garcia • "The Boy with Big Big Feelings" by Britney Winn Lee For additional resources: rappahannockareacsb.org/portfolio-view/resilience/ RACSB Emergency Services Therapists are available 24/7: 540-373-6876. To schedule an appointment, please call the clinic in the locality where you live: • Fredericksburg Clinic: 540-373-3223 • Caroline County Clinic: 804-633-9997 • King George County Clinic: 540-775-9879 • Spotsylvania County Clinic: 540-582-3980 • Stafford County Clinic: 540-659-2725 In a crisis, call 9-1-1 and ask for a CIT Trained Officer. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) National Crisis Text Line: 741-741 "I always encourage parents that you want to find the best fit for your family," Barnes said. "Don't be afraid to ask questions."

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