5 Honest Mental Health Tips for Parents This School Year

5 Honest Mental Health Tips for Parents This School Year

By: Bianca Mitchell, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Serenity Mental Health Centers

Let’s be honest. Back-to-school isn’t just hard on the kids. And while you’re trying to hold it all together for your children, your own mental health often ends up last on the list.

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a parent, Bianca Mitchell, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Serenity Mental Health Centers, has five practical tips to protect your peace this school year:

1. Be present, not perfect. Your children don't need you to be perfect. A calm presence and a listening ear go a lot further than a color-coded calendar.

2. Morning chaos? Change one thing. You can’t negate your whole routine. But you can prep breakfast the night before or lay out outfits. Small tweaks make the biggest difference.

3. Know your signs of stress. If you notice yourself feeling more irritable, disconnected, or constantly exhausted, that’s your brain waving a flag. Mental health isn’t just about crisis; it’s about catching things early.

4. Normalize quick mental health check-ins. Check-in with your kids at dinner or in the car. Asking questions can open the door to deeper conversations over time.

5. Ask for help if needed. You don’t have to carry the weight by yourself. Asking for help from a partner, friend, or healthcare professional is a sign of strength.

Support is always available at Serenity Mental Health Centers. Visit serenitymentalhealthcenters.com to learn more.