Dear CDA Families,
May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time to remember the importance of caring for our emotional and mental well-being. Life can be busy and stressful, so it’s important to take time to care for ourselves and our families. This month is a gentle reminder that mental health matters just as much as physical health.
As parents and caregivers, we support our children in many ways, like keeping them safe, feeding them, teaching them, and helping them grow. However, one of the most important things we can do is help them understand their feelings and learn healthy ways to manage them. When we take time to check in, slow down, and create safe spaces to talk, we help build a strong foundation of emotional wellness.
Just like physical health, mental health needs care and attention. Feeling overwhelmed, sad, or anxious from time to time is part of being human, even for children. By creating safe spaces to talk and feel, we help kids learn that it’s okay to have big emotions and that they don’t have to handle them alone. Together, we can build healthy habits that support lifelong emotional health.
You don’t need to be a mental health expert to make a big difference. Small steps at home can support your family’s well-being every day.
Easy Ways to Support Family Mental Health
1. Check In Daily
Ask your child how they feel each day to open up helpful conversations. Try questions like, “What made you smile today?” or “Was there anything that felt hard?”
2. Keep a Regular Routine
Children feel safe when they know what to expect. Try to keep a regular schedule, like waking up, meals, play, and bedtime can help children feel safe and calm.
3. Practice Calming Exercises Together
Deep breathing, stretching, listening to music, or taking a short walk are great ways to calm minds and bodies, especially after a long day.
4. Talk About Feelings
Use simple words to name emotions like happy, sad, mad, or worried. Let your child know it’s okay to feel those things.
5. Get Outside
Spending time in nature, like taking a walk, fresh air, or playing at the park can help lower stress for everyone.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Notice and praise your child’s efforts to express themselves or handle a challenge. “I saw how you took a deep breath when you were frustrated, that was really brave.” This builds confidence and emotional strength.
7. Take Care of Yourself:
Your mental health matters too! Give yourself at least 5 minutes or more each day to relax, stretch, breathe, or enjoy something you love. When you take care of yourself, you’re better able to care for others.
Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health. When we slow down, listen, and show love and compassion, we help our children grow up feeling secure, confident, and emotionally strong.
Feelings Jar Activity
Make a “Feelings Jar” together. Decorate a small container or cup. Write down feeling words on pieces of paper, like happy, sad, tired, excited, or nervous. Each day, let your child pick one and talk about it:
- “What makes you feel this way?”
- “What helps you when you feel that way?”
This activity helps kids name their emotions and learn how to talk about them.
Mental Health Resources
1. Mental Health America (MHA)
Offers free mental health screening tools, parent guides, and tips to support emotional wellness at home.
Visit: mhanational.org
2. San Diego Access & Crisis Line
Free, 24/7 support line offering help, emotional support, and referrals for children and adults.
Visit: up2sd.org or Call: 1-888-724-7240
3. NAMI San Diego (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Offers free family support groups, mental health education, and resources for parents and caregivers.
Visit: namisandiego.org or Call: 1-800-523-5933
4. 211 San Diego
Connects you to local mental health, food, housing, and wellness services, available 24/7.
Visit: 211sandiego.org or Call: 2-1-1
5. BrightLife Kids – Free Online Coaching for Kids Ages 0–12
Free behavioral health coaching and emotional wellness support for California families with children ages 0–12. No insurance or referral needed.
Visit: hellobrightline.com/brightlifekids
6. Soluna Mental Health App for Ages 13–25
A free and confidential mental health app for California youth ages 13–25. Includes 1:1 coaching, mood tracking, journaling, and access to care and peer support.
Visit: solunaapp.com
7. La Maestra Community Health Centers
Low-cost behavioral health services with sliding scale fees for families in need.
Visit: lamaestra.org or Call: (619) 280-4213
8. Crisis Text Line
Free, 24/7 support for anyone in emotional distress. A trained counselor will text back immediately.
Visit: crisistextline.org or Text: HOME to 741741
9. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, 24/7 support for people experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress.
Visit: 988lifeline.org or Call: 988
Upcoming Workshops
We have FREE workshops all year round. Click the button below for more information and register today:
We’re Here to Help
For individualized assistance with resources or referrals, please contact our Family Resources Team via the contact form on our workshops page:
