UW Department of Psychiatry
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Support for Families and Children

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of parents, children, and families, with multiple unanticipated changes and adjustments. This page offers resources and practical strategies for parents and other caregivers who are facing challenges and disruptions in family life due to the COVID-19 crisis, with the goal of minimizing the negative effects of stress, and maximizing the wellbeing and strengths of parents, children, and families.

  • Acknowledge one’s own anxieties as an adult, and take steps to reduce stress and engage in self-care practices
  • Listen to and validate young people’s concerns regarding safety, fears, anxiety, and changes in daily life
  • Approach discussions about COVID-19, health, hygiene, and social distancing, in calm and age-appropriate ways
  • Model effective self-care, coping skills, and hygiene practices
  • Maintain daily routines and structure where possible, and engage all family members in discussions
  • Stay virtually connected with friends and family
  • Seek online resources to support emotional wellbeing, learning, play, and activities

Dr. Marcia Slattery of the University of Wisconsin Department of Psychiatry discusses how to talk with your kids about COVID-19. Read more of her tips for parents here.

COVID-19 MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE

  • Within this section, you will find resources to support parents, children, adolescents, and families during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Highly recommended resources are denoted with a star (★) and summarized with a brief description
  • Note: all hyperlinks will open in a separate tab of your browser

 

Participate in a Research Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Wisconsin Youth and Families

If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 6-17 and are living in the Wisconsin area, you are eligible for a research study conducted by the Department of Psychiatry.

Recommended Resources:

★ AACAP: Resources for Helping Kids and Parents Cope Amidst COVID-19 (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)

Articles about discussing the coronavirus with kids, helping parents cope, talking to kids about loved ones who are sick, loss and grief, kids activities, and support for parents and children with disabilities. Informacion en Español.

★ CSTS: COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)

Wealth of articles and infographics for individuals, families, providers, and community leaders, with resources from national organizations such as the Center for Disease Control, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, World Health Organization, and National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Family topics include:

– Managing Family Conflict While Home During COVID-19: Intimate Partners
– Tips for Coping when Quarantined with COVID-19 Family Members
– When Family Members are Hospitalized due to COVID-19
– Finding the Right Words to Talk with Children and Teens
– Supporting Homebound Children
– Taking Care of Your Family
– Discussing Coronavirus with Your Children
– Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak

★ NCTSN: Public Health Resources (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Full resource guide to help you think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect your family— both physically and emotionally—and what you can do to help your family cope in times of public health emergencies. Fact sheets and e-learning courses to support parents, children, teens, community leaders, as well as information regarding psychological health, family activities, and approaching media coverage. Includes information in Español and Chinese.

★ Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) (NCTSN)

This 5 page PDF offers strategies for reducing risk, coping with stress, hygiene practices, family dialogue, and an excellent chart with tips for how to approach conversations with children of different ages (preschool, school-age, adolescents).

★ Parents and COVID 19: Helping Your Children (InfoAboutKids.org)

Best practices for maintaining health, managing worry, strategies for planning and structure, and additional resources for parents and families.

★ Self-care for Resilience Toolkit (Mass General Clay Center for Healthy Young Minds)

Videos, podcasts and tips from experts on how to care for yourself and your family amidst COVID-19. Includes strategies for cultivating resiliency and self-care practices for school-aged children, middle school students, high school students and college students.

★ Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook (Jamma International)

Comprehensive workbook for managing anxiety in the context of coronavirus. This workbook utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to help the reader identify common physical & cognitive manifestations of anxiety, offering worksheets and practical tools for working with thoughts, seeking healthy distractions, building self-care routines, using gratitude practices and breathing exercises to calm the bodymind.

Further Resources

How to Talk to Your Kids About COVID-19

Additional Tips & Tools:

Additional Resources for Parents & Families:

Apps for Mindfulness & Wellbeing

Try one of these mobile apps to help manage stress and promote wellbeing

Virtual Support Groups

Online support groups for individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar, addiction, and other challenges

General Stress & Coping

Many of the resources listed in this section may be relevant to parents and families