Mental Health Toolkit

Back-To-School checklist for you & your kids 

St. Vincent Regional Hospital

As families gather school supplies, backpacks and clothes, primary care providers recommend an addition to your back-to-school checklist: A mental health toolkit.

 “It’s normal for children to feel anxious about back-to-school changes, and it’s important for families to talk with their children about their feelings, what to expect, and set routines to help them transition to the school year,” said Jodi Gilligan, Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, Intermountain Health Lockwood Clinic.

Jodi Gilligan, Family Practice Nurse Practitioner

“We also want to help parents recognize the signs of when their child needs help, and what resources are available to them,” Gilligan added. “The number of kids needing mental health support typically starts to rise as students head back to school, and we don’t need to wait until a crisis strikes. Help is available.”

One in five 3-to-17-year-old children nationally face a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. Intermountain Health experts say there are ways to set your child up for success with their mental health as school starts. 

Set Your Child Up for Mental Health Success with this back-to-school checklist

• Create routines with sleep schedules, mealtimes, active and focus times, and what amount of time should be spent on mobile devices and social media.
• Model enthusiasm about school. Talk to your child about what is exciting about the school year, be it new shoes or a new teacher, or plan to hide a fun note in their backpack each day.
• Help your child anticipate what to expect, such as walking to the bus stop, visiting the school in advance, and when and where you’ll see them after school.
• Talk about the day, acknowledging and validating their feelings, and discussing what helps them feel calm in challenging moments.

Be Aware - Know the Signs of Distress

• Changes in behavior or mood. This includes isolation or withdrawal from friends or activities, and eating habits.
• Inability to cope or recover. If your child comes home tearful one day, it’s a good sign that they can talk to you or show you how they cope and recover from something that was hard. But if your child struggles for a long time or is inconsolable, and unable to recover from a difficult day, that’s more concerning.
• Consistently struggling. Rough days can happen. But if rough days happen every morning, or several times a week, or your child is avoiding school, reach out for support.

 Available Resources – Know Where to Get Help

Contact your primary care provider: If you are noticing changes in your child, reach out to your child’s primary care provider. To find a primary care provider near you, visit: intermountainhealthcare.org/locations

The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. This support is available 24/7. To talk or text simply dial 988, or chat or find out more go to 988lifeline.org. If it is an emergency, 911 will dispatch needed emergency service to a caller and may provide support while you wait for responders to arrive.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. They offer a non-crisis helpline 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) available Monday Through Friday, 8 A.M. – 8 P.M. This line provides information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members, caregivers, and the public. 

The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ young people during times of crisis by providing access to crisis counselors 24/7, 365 days a year. Call 866-488-7386 or Text START to 678-678.

At St. Vincent Regional Hospital our Emergency Department, we provide 24/7 mental health crisis support. We have trained staff experienced in helping with mental health crises. Always keep in mind, if there is an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911.

As you prepare for a happy and successful school year, we know that a healthy student -- and a healthy mind go hand in hand. Make sure you’re checking in with your child and helping them navigate the emotional challenges of school life, and if you have any concerns or questions, please visit with your child’s provider. Addressing any behavioral health issues early can help your child have a successful year.  

More from the Experts at St. Vincent Regional Hospital

About St. Vincent Regional Hospital

Founded on our mission of compassionate care 125 years ago, St. Vincent Regional Hospital, part of Intermountain Health, has grown into one of Montana’s largest comprehensive hospitals, serving the healthcare needs of over 400,000 people in our four-state area. Continuing to respond to the needs of our community, we have been recognized as an innovator in trauma, heart, neurological and cancer care. At St. Vincent and Intermountain Health, our 12 primary care clinics, and specialty clinics in and around the Billings area, our goal is to help you live the healthiest lives possible. This also includes caring for the region's youngest patients. We opened the region's first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit staffed 24/7 by Pediatric Intensivists and the only Pediatric Surgery program serving eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and the western Dakotas.