Resources From You Are Not Alone: Navigating Your Child's Mental Health
Revisiting timely insights from Dr. Christine Crawford's presentation on why children’s mental health support remains essential today.
By Spark Kindness Team
Supporting Our Children With Empathy, Curiosity, and Consistency
Addressing children’s mental health remains a critical need in our communities. The insights shared during the Spark Kindness Fall 2025 Resilient Community Series continue to resonate because the challenges children face have not changed. Dr. Christine Crawford, Associate Medical Director of NAMI, offered compassionate and practical guidance for caregivers, educators, and community members.
Children continue to experience stress, uncertainty, and emotional challenges—often without the words to express what they’re feeling. Adults are asking important questions: How do I support a child who’s struggling? What should I look for? What actually helps? Dr. Crawford emphasized that meaningful support doesn’t require perfection or specialized expertise. Listening without judgment, staying present during difficult conversations, and responding with compassion can make a lasting difference in a child’s sense of safety and belonging.
These are foundational skills for building resilient families and communities. By sharing these resources now, we hope these insights continue to reach and support those who care for children every day.
Key Strategies Shared
Look for a Pattern
- Notice any consistent changes in your child’s behavior. Try to identify what’s new, different, or out of the ordinary. (Is this happening just at home or at school, activities, etc).
- Communicate what you see - gently share the changes you’ve noticed. Use language that is open and nonjudgmental to help your child feel safe and understood.
Listen with Curiosity
- Approach the conversation with an open mind. Ask questions that invite your child to share their perspective and help you understand what might be going on beneath the surface.
- Encourage your child to reflect on and talk about the changes themselves. Ask things like, “Have you noticed this too?” or “What do you think is making things feel harder right now?”
Lock In
- Collaboratively discuss strategies for support. Model healthy coping by sharing some of your own struggles and the ways you manage them.
- "You are not alone. We’ll figure this out step by step.” - A powerful message of reassurance and partnership to offer your child.
Learn more about Dr. Christine Crawford and her work: Visit Webster Clinic.
Missed it or want to watch again? Below is the video recording of the event.
Program Slides and Additional Resources
- Program Slides
- Website: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - www.nami.org
- Book: You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health—With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real Families by Dr. Christine M. Crawford
- Podcast: Full-Tilt Parenting with Debbie Reber (past Spark presenter) featuring Dr. Christine Crawford on Parenting Through Mental Health Challenges
- View Mental Health Resources here and Healthy Relationships and Connections Resources here