5 ways to help parents support their kids' mental health

May 19, 2023 4:40 PM

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.

Read more: 4 ways to support working moms

"When you have a child who has mental health needs such as anxiety, OCD, ADHD and the like, everything becomes next-level," she says. "[For parents], oftentimes the world can feel lonely and overwhelming."

Employee wellness, attendance at work, and job productivity all suffer as a result of the strain. According to a survey conducted by children's mental health organization On Our Sleeves, almost one in three working parents expressed higher levels of concern and work disruption related to their children's mental health following the COVID pandemic, and one third has reported changing or quitting their jobs because of their child's mental health. Cassone points out that employers need to recognize that although many parents may experience having a child with a mental health condition, each of their employees will have different needs when it comes to support.

"Unfortunately, words like 'ADD' and 'anxiety' are so overused, society makes it easy for people to normalize these terms as 'everyone has a little of that,'" she says. "Therefore, it is difficult to meet the real needs when so much of mental health recedes into the noise."

The path to restore health can be a long one, and managing a child's mental health can feel like an uphill battle as parents seek to find the right care and end up facing questions, time constraints and high costs as they attempt to navigate the complex mental healthcare system.

"It is deeply important for employers to consider benefits that have the greatest impact, and for those with children with mental health needs, the struggle is real," says Cassone. "Employees give to their jobs and then they give all they have to their family."

With some creativity, employers can support employees through compassionate work environments, supportive benefits and caring leadership. Here are five ways to make a difference:

Offer flexibility in work location and time and PTO

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.

Mental health and wellness offerings

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.

Read more:

Working parents need pediatric mental health benefits

Access to telehealth and digital platforms

Digital and telehealth options eliminate the time getting to and from appointments, as well as speed up access to care. The average wait time for a pediatric therapy appointment is almost eight weeks, according to employer mental health solution Spring Health. In addition to faster care and time saved on the commute to and from appointments, specific advantages of telehealth therapy options for adolescents include a comfortable setting, as clients are often in their homes, greater consistency of care and a higher level of comfort with technology that allows young clients to access care easily on their own, according to treatment facility Sustain Health. Many health and wellness platforms offer some element of 24-hour service, so care is available when employees and their families need it most.

Caregiver platform benefit

Specific caregiving benefit programs can help employees manage medications, gain quick access to medical questions, and offer professional assistance with healthcare navigation. Some go as far as to help arrange transportation, meal delivery, and additional childcare for families.

Read more:

Working parents need more mental health support for their children

"Imagine the productivity of an employee who is supported by a workplace that trusts the delicate balance of work and parenting by providing the care and resources necessary [for these workers] to achieve their fullest potential in both areas," Cassone says.

Show empathy and compassion

Feeling supported can make all the difference to employees. According to a workplace empathy study by Businessolver, 93% of employees reported they would stay with an empathetic employer, and 82% of employees would leave their position to work for a more empathetic organization. Additional research showed that empathy boosts engagement, morale, retention and productivity. Beginning an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for parents with kids experiencing a mental health crisis can go a long way in helping those employees feel more supported, according to Spring Health.

"You don't just hire an employee; you are becoming part of their family," Cassone says. "Wouldn't you offer more than niceties for a family member in need?"