5 ways to help parents support their kids' mental health

For all working parents, the balance between fulfilling job responsibilities and the needs of their children can be precarious. For those helping their child navigate the complexities of a mental health condition, there is often little time for anything else, and without proper employer support, a manageable balance becomes impossible.

An estimated 49.5% of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The most common adolescent disorders include anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders. The time parents must spend on care and support can be overwhelming, says Jill Cassone, the founder of private academy Success4School and an educational diagnostician with a background in regular and special education, as well as specialized ADHD training.

A recent survey published by the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that 35% of parents were spending five or more hours per week on their child’s behavioral health, and 14% were spending more than eight hours. Help with direct care, finding access to outside and professional care, transportation, attending appointments and managing medication for these conditions all become part of their already busy weekly routine, and many of these tasks must take place during normal working hours.

Health benefits aimed at alleviating out-of-pocket expenses are another way employers can offer support. The financial strain on families can take a massive toll, as associated treatment costs for youth only grow with age. In 2022, Nomi Health found that inpatient care costs for elementary-age children were $48, compared with $502 for teens ages 13-15 and $624 for teens 16-19. Studies show that many youth end up with more than one condition that requires intervention: For children with behavior problems, more than one in three also had anxiety (36.6%) and about one in five also had depression (20.3%), according to the Center for Disease Control.

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