As the school year comes to a close and the carefree feeling of summer comes roaring in, I want to take a moment to talk about something serious – your child’s mental health.

This is unquestionably one of the most important issues you as a parent will navigate while your children are growing up. While a lot of the information I’m about to share is sobering (and I won’t sugarcoat the realities of what your kids are facing), you better believe I am going to encourage you because the biggest influence on your child’s mental health is YOU.*

I believe that when you have the facts about any situation you are dealing with, you are better equipped with how to handle it. Does it make it easier? Not always, but it can give you the confidence to address it! I know that you care enough about your kids not to shy away from something even if it’s scary or uncomfortable. As your kids grow and watch you confront difficult topics head-on, you’re instilling the courage for them to do that, too.

I’m now going to touch on two of the ‘Big Bads’ that I believe are at the forefront of…