Often, we want to support our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in times of need but may not know how. Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) empowers us to be more prepared to support others’ mental health needs — especially before a crisis.
May is mental health awareness month, a national initiative to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Throughout May, Extension's Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing aims to foster public education about the importance of mental health and wellbeing and to connect families affected by mental health challenges with Extension resources.
We can all play a role in raising awareness of the importance of mental health — whether you're a parent seeking information on supporting your child's mental wellbeing, a caregiver looking for ways to help a loved one, or a professional working with families.
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Resources for parents and caregivers
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What exactly is “mental health”? What are the differences between “mental health” and “mental illness”?
There are many ways to understand mental health based on our experiences, families and cultures. It’s not just about illness. We all have a state of mental health all of the time. A public health approach to mental health helps improve the mental health of all children and families, not just those with diagnoses. Watch this video to learn about a public health approach to mental health and well-being. Use the discussion questions to start conversations with others.
Find self-care activities
Managing stress begins with self-care. Fortunately, there are many things you can do at home and on your own schedule to support your mental health, maintain healthy communication and prevent isolation. Learn more about self-care activities.
Try mindful breathing
It’s time to take a deep breath. Or several of them. With the research showing the many benefits to the practice of deep breathing, we thought we’d offer a simple practice to help you make that happen. Watch a short video to practice your breathing.
Connect with others
Social connections are important for good health. People who are connected with friends, family members, neighbors and others experience better physical and emotional health, and even a longer life. Learn about building social support with others.
Learn to anticipate stress
Anticipatory stress is experiencing an increased stress response in anticipation of a difficult or unpredictable situation. Learn more about preventing and managing it.
Practice communicating under pressure
During stressful times, it's easy to experience misunderstandings that sometimes result in adding more stress to the situation. At times like this, it's helpful to reexamine how we communicate. Learn about ways to effectively communicate under pressure.
Find parenting coping strategies
Family stress is often influenced or moderated by parental stress. It is important that parents take action to manage the amount of stress the family is experiencing. There are strategies that parents can use to moderate family stress. Learn more about ways to cope and adapt as a parent.
Help children manage stress
Adults can become so preoccupied they forget that tough times have an emotional, as well as a financial, impact on their children. Children depend on their parents for emotional security. When parents are tense, upset and inattentive, much of this security is gone. Learn more about ways you can help your children cope during stressful times.
Talk with young people about suicide
When someone in your community attempts or completes suicide, everyone can be affected. Young people in particular can have strong feelings and may need your help understanding them. Learn about ways to talk about this difficult topic with the young people in your life.
Talk with kids about an overdose death
The death of any loved one or friend can bring with it many different and unexpected emotions. However, when someone dies from an overdose can create additional layers of complex emotions, making the death especially difficult to talk about and process. Learn more about talking to youth about an overdose death.
Respond to crisis and change
Unexpected changes such as unemployment, a disaster, divorce or the death of someone you love are among the most stressful events a person can experience. Managing your stress during these times is important for your overall wellbeing. Learn more about managing stress after unexpected change.
Resources for professionals and providers working with families and youth
- Find mindfulness activities for the classroom in the Mental Flourishing Toolkit
- Review the research about rural community stress
- Learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Watch a video about trauma-sensitive practice in schools
- Learn about infant and early childhood mental health
- Explore an ambiguous loss workbook
- Prevent compassion fatigue
- Visit our youth development curriculum library for mental health-related lessons:
- Bookmark our Mental Health Crisis Resource Guide for MN 4-H Volunteers
Reviewed in 2024