Mental Wellness Check-ins for the Whole Family

Health care systems help families promote physical well-being by normalizing proactive and preventative measures such as routine physicals, screenings, and immunization schedules.

But how often are we proactive regarding our mental wellness? Studies tell us that families don’t prioritize or reach out for professional mental health care until a crisis forces the issue. The irony is that the status of our mental health can dramatically impact every facet of our lives, especially our physical well-being.

Below are some simple but effective strategies for prioritizing mental wellness as a family and recognizing early on when help is needed.

  • Watch for significant changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, moods, activity levels, grades, and unexplained physical complaints.
  • Normalize talking about feelings by making it safe to share.
  • Be open and available to actively listen (without jumping to a “fix”).
  • Try an online mental wellness screening. (See “Resources” below)
  • Rather than asking “How was your day?” consider asking “How are you feeling right now?”
  • Post a “feelings chart” where each family member can communicate how they’re feeling that day.
  • Neuroscience tells us that a daily “gratitude practice” with specific prompts provides a multitude of benefits. These include strengthening family relationships, reducing stress, and rewiring the brain to seek out what’s “going right.”
  • Get at least 30 minutes of exercise/movement each day.

Just adding a couple of these practices to daily routines can help create a happier, healthier, more resilient family.

Resources

If you or someone in your family is in crisis, call or text 988.

Online Mental Health Screening Tools

Mental Wellness Organizations