Mental Health America offers a guide for parents and caregivers on various mental illnesses, legal jargon, insurance information, applying for FMLA, and best practices in supporting your child or family member during their journey through mental illness and recovery.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old and three-quarters of mental health disorders begin age 24; however, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs.
Mental Health Promotion:
Children’s mental health matters. Care for your children’s mental health just as you do for their physical health.
Provide your child with a safe, loving, and secure home.
Create an atmosphere of honesty, trust, and respect.
Allow age appropriate independence and assertiveness.
Provide safe and time limited technology use.
Provide time to learn and succeed.
Give your child opportunities to learn and grow, including being involved in their school and community and with other caring adults and friends.
Provide opportunities to talk about experiences and express their emotions.
Let your child know that everyone experiences pain, fear, sadness, stress, worry, and anger and that these emotions are a normal part of life.
Be a role model by talking about your own feelings, apologizing, expressing anger without violence, and by using active problem-solving skills.
Foster resilience through connectedness, competency, helping others, and successfully facing difficult situations.
Teach and reinforce positive behaviors and decision making.
Teaching your child social skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution supports good mental health.
Encourage good physical health through healthy eating habits, regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Provide time to play.
Provide encouragement and "catch" them being successful.
Provide positive feedback.
Encourage your child’s talents and skills, while also accepting their limitations.
Celebrate your child’s accomplishments.
Set consistent and clear expectations and be consistent and fair with consequences for misbehavior.
Make sure to acknowledge both positive and negative behaviors.
Think of “discipline” as a form of teaching, rather than as physical punishment.
Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health (www.children.wi.gov): This website provides children's mental health resources created by the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health, including fact sheets and parenting tips.
Child Mind Institute (www.childmind.org): The Child Mind Institute provides information and resources for families who need more guidance on mental health and learning disorders.
Healthy Children (www.healthychildren.org): This site provides numerous resources regarding the health and wellbeing of youth of all ages.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (www.nami.org): NAMI provides many resources and materials to help those affected by mental illness build better lives.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org): The AFSP provides educational and advocacy materials as well as support for those affected by suicide.
Jed Foundation (www.jedfoundation.org): The Jed Foundation provides resources for parents and teens to help prevent suicide.
The Family and Children's Center is a regional, not-for-profit agency that provides services designed to strengthen families and promote individual well-being, including: alcohol and drug treatment, domestic and child abuse services, family support services, foster care, housing and residential programs, juvenile services, mental health resources, and respite services. The Family and Children's Center employs teachers, child psychiatrists, psychologists, therapist, and registered nurses. Children and adults can obtain help in solving their problems without leaving their homes and loved ones.
The Parenting Place is a not-for-profit agency serving the La Crosse area serving parents, caregivers, and children. The Parenting Place is a place for all who care for young children. The Parenting Place resources prepare, strengthen, and support parents and caregivers by creating greater understanding of the impact they have on the lives of children in their care. Through such increased understanding, children will have a positive, supportive, and loving start in life. Offered services include: parenting programs, play date opportunities, diaper bank, childhood development resources, and more.
The YMCA offers various childcare options, as well as child programs, family events, and community opportunities. In addition, the YMCA employs a Community Health Worker to assist clients in accessing community resources, including health insurance, food, housing, quality care and health information. The Community Health Worker can also facilitate communication and client empowerment in interactions with health care/social service systems The YMCA also employs a Mental Health Director. On the YMCA's website, you can find resources on mindfulness, resilience, and coping strategies.
La Crosse County Human Services
The Family and Children’s section provides services to children, youth and families in accordance with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families standards, guidelines and the mandates within Wisconsin Children’s Code, Chapter 48. The legislative intent of Chapter 48 states, “of paramount importance is our work to protect children, to preserve the unity of the family and whenever possible strengthen family life through assisting parents in fulfilling their responsibilities as parents.” Services provided by La Crosse County Human Services include: child protective services, child welfare services, foster care, relative care, and independent living for youth. When a child is not in immediate danger, an Alternative Response (AR) is used. With Alternative Response, the goal is to help families get needed services, supports, and other help that will resolve concerns and stressors often associated with allegations of child maltreatment. La Crosse County also provides general resources for families in regards to financial assistance, employment, and basic needs.
New Horizons - Crisis Line: 1-888-231-0066
New Horizons Shelter is a shelter for individuals and families who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse. New Horizons Shelter is staffed 24/7 to provide emergency shelter and food to victims of domestic violence and their children. The shelter’s Crisis Advocates provide support and advocacy for victims and children through their shelter stay. In addition to providing the essentials of food and shelter to ensure the physical safety of individuals and families who have experienced abuse, New Horizons conducts various programs and services, all of which are confidential and complimentary: 24 hour crisis line, outreach center in La Crosse, support groups, resource advocacy, legal advocacy, trauma counseling, youth and family advocacy, diversity advocacy, community education and awareness, and safety planning.
Coulee Parenting Connection is the tri-state region’s award-winning family publication. Find Coulee Parenting Connection in print at high-traffic locations visited by families throughout the region, including libraries, specialty shops, child care centers, family organizations, health facilities, and public and private elementary schools in Holmen, La Crosse, Onalaska, and West Salem, as well as La Crescent and Winona, Minnesota. Coulee Parenting Connections strives to improve family life for parents and children in the Coulee Region by providing relevant and meaningful coverage of local family stories, issues, and events in a high-quality, community-driven publication.
Great Rivers United Way works to advance the common good by positively impacting our youngest community members by increasing academic success and strengthening family supports; stabilizing household economic situations so people can experience thriving lives by improving access to living-wage employment and decreasing the number of households in financial crisis; and supporting a healthy and socially-connected community by improving access to prevention and intervention programming for mental and physical health and improving connections for at-risk community members to community resources.
La Crosse County Prevention Network
The La Crosse County Prevention Network provides resources to youth, parents and caregivers, educators, and community members on topics such as bullying and cyberbullying, marijuana, prescription drugs, and alcohol use. Their website includes current and past recorded webinars for viewing, as well as links to various resources on the topics. LCPN also has many links for education on trauma, building a child's resilience, and starting conversations with your child on difficult topics.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring network that focuses on making meaningful matches between adult volunteers and children ages 5-18 to help youth achieve their full potential. BBBS helps children build confidence, relationships, and connections; promotes the avoidance of risky behaviors; and in turn, results in higher educational outcomes for the youth. Mentorships can take place in the community through one-on-one outings and activities, or at school through the school-based mentoring program. Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Students who are successful in school are less likely to drop out, abuse drugs, or commit crimes. Referrals can be completed online at the website above.
7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection has many resources for parents and students, including programs and groups that may fit your needs. PANDA (Parents and Allies) provides a safe, confidential space to talk openly about experiences as a parent, grandparent, teacher, or friend to help learn, grow, and form friendships along the way. This website is also a connection for current events and happenings in our community.
Gundersen Health System Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit - 608-775-3523
Gundersen Health System in La Crosse houses a 30-bed facility that provides acute mental health services. Patients are supported and protected in a healing environment during their hospitalization. Gundersen encourages patients to keep their daily routines and actively participate in their own care. A team approach provides consistent quality care. Individualized patient care is designed by the psychiatric team. Patients are encouraged to participate in establishing goals while hospitalized and progress toward those goals is monitored throughout the hospital stay. While staying at the Inpatient Psychiatry unit, a patient will be cared for by a variety of staff including: psychiatrists, nurses, internal medicine providers, social workers, occupational & recreational therapists, pastoral care, and other specialties as needed.
If you are seeking voluntary placement for yourself or your child, please go to the Emergency Room. From there, if you maintain your request for a voluntary placement, the Emergency Room is required to assist you in finding care either in the area or in the state of Wisconsin.
If you are a family member of a student who has recently been hospitalized to in-patient mental health treatment, please reach out to your child's school counselor so we can help develop a reintegration plan upon their return to best support their needs.
Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
Located in Chippewa County, this agency serves the families of children with special healthcare needs living in the Western Wisconsin region. On the website, you will find integrated and coordinated information for families, including referral, follow-up, parent to parent support, and service coordination.
The organization provides families free and confidential services such as: providing up-to-date information and resources in the community, state and county; health benefits and insurance information; condition specific information and resources; assistance finding healthcare providers; transition planning and resources; support from a staff with personal and professional experience in helping Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs; home healthcare resources; WIC and nutritional resources; Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, BadgerCare, and Forward Health information.
La Crosse County Mobile Crisis - Call 608-784-HELP (4357)
Mobile Crisis is a team of mental health crisis responders who work around the clock in La Crosse County to support individuals through mental health crises, to help connect family members to resources, or simply to listen. The crisis unit is certified as an emergency mental health program by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Beyond responding to emergencies, the unit’s social workers and therapists can also engage with individuals for three to six months of crisis case management. Responders also often work to create a safety plan for clients, with clear steps for how to identify and manage a crisis. Anyone can receive counseling and therapeutic services through the program, which offers sliding scale fees to those who qualify. Friends or relatives of people experiencing mental health crises are encouraged to call the unit, in addition to people who need support for their own mental health.
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behavior and prevent problems developing. Triple P is used in more 30 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups and in many different kinds of family structures. The three Ps in ‘Triple P’ stand for ‘Positive Parenting Program’ which means your family life is going to be much more enjoyable. Triple P helps parents:
Raise happy, confident kids
Manage misbehavior so everyone in the family enjoys life more
Set rules and routines that everyone respects and follows
Encourage behavior you like
Take care of yourself as a parent
Feel confident you’re doing the right thing
You can do Triple P anywhere, anytime—24/7 with the online programs. Triple P Online is for parents of toddlers to tweens (0-12 years), and Teen Triple P Online is for parents of pre-teens and teens (10-16 years).
ACT - Raising Safe Kids Program
The ACT program is an early prevention intervention focusing on parents and caregivers of young children. The program is based on three foundational pieces of evidence from research:
The early years are a critical time in development when children are learning basic skills that have long-term effects on their lives.
Exposure to adverse experiences early in life, such as maltreatment, can have serious and long-lasting impacts on emotional, cognitive, behavioral development and on health.
Parents and caregivers are teachers, protectors and advocates for their children.
The ACT Parenting Program is a universal intervention for all parents and caregivers of young children regardless of risk or experience as abusers. Curriculum delivery is not judgmental and puts emphasis on the practice of skills and discussions of positive parenting options. ACT has a collaborative, person-centered, gentle, empathetic way to elicit motivation to change parenting skills and practices.
The Love and Logic formula was developed by three child experts as a parenting model in order to help parents and caregivers learn how to reel in their own emotions when disciplining their children, and instead use love and empathy to teach consequences, establish boundaries and build healthy parent-child relationships. In other words, rather than yell or scold, parents should show restraint when addressing issues with their children. Love and Logic promotes the belief that kids should be loved unconditionally for who they are — not their achievements. When parenting with Love and Logic, children are less likely to throw fits, argue or talk back. There are likely to be fewer power struggles and more positive interactions between the parent and child.
The Nurturing Parenting Programs are a family-centered trauma-informed initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices.
The long term goals are to prevent recidivism in families receiving social services, lower the rate of multi-parent teenage pregnancies, reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency and alcohol abuse, and stop the intergenerational cycle of child abuse by teaching positive parenting behaviors.
Nurturing Parenting Program helps parents and caregivers learn strategies for behavior management that will focus on children’s self-worth and personal empowerment. Topics include developing daily routines, discipling with dignity, and building family rules and values.
Support and encouragement is provided through the Healthy Families program to help new parents champion their families and give babies in our communities a brighter beginning. By building confidence, reducing stress, and maximizing the joys of becoming a new mother or father, Healthy Families help parents and children grow together.
To participate in this program, you must be expecting a baby or have a newborn younger than 90 days old.
Family 2.0 (formerly Sandcastles) is a program that seeks to help children identify feelings related to divorce. Coping skills are introduced as ways to work through those feelings. Family 2.0 builds on resilience and problem solving skills through small, interactive groups with same-age peers. Family 2.0 includes mindfulness exercises, yoga movements, group discussions, and workbook activities.
The Parenting Place offers many more workshops and classes specific to parenting and child-rearing, including but not limited to: Positive Parenting for Dads, Nurturing Parenting, Coping with Teenagers' Emotions, Dealing with Disobedience, Managing Fighting & Aggression, Raising Confident and Competent Children, The Power of Positive Parenting. Please see their website for more information.
When developing an Emotional Regulation Plan, it is best to do so when calm and in an environment where you feel safe and secure. It is better to have well-laid plans and never need to use them, than to try to develop them while in the midst of a mental health crisis.
An Emotional Regulation Plan goes beyond responding to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These plans can be appropriate for:
-responding to urges for self-harm or substance use
-responding to personal relationship crises
-responding to very low mood due to mental health symptoms
-providing emotional support during a physical health crisis
-identifying support networks and trusted people
-brainstorming self-care
-building coping skills
-compiling resources
A comprehensive Emotional Regulation Plan includes several answers to the following questions:
-Some good ways to distract myself are...
-I know I'm triggered when I notice...
-Coping skills I can use...
-Safe people I can reach out to are, with contact numbers and names...
-Ways to keep myself and my space safe...
-Other resources I can use to get myself care are...
Everyone can benefit from an Emotional Regulation Plan.
Breath Like Water is a fiction novel about two teenagers on the same swim team; one of whom experiences Bipolar II Disorder. The protagonist, Susannah, tries to love him through it the best she can, but she has her own very apparent mental health struggles that are undiagnosed. This book was a breath of fresh air for me as a reader, because it’s really fascinating to see the diagnosed and self-aware character so starkly contrasted with the protagonist, who has yet to receive help for her glaring mental health concerns. It does a really great job of addressing treated vs. untreated mental illness, and the ways we try to ‘fix’ those around us as an act of love.
I didn’t want this book to end when I read it. It almost reads as a modern-day Perks of Being A Wallflower. The main character is holding on to her sister’s biggest secret, while struggling to feel like she is the family disappointment and trying to fiercely deal with her depression and grief at losing her sister Olga. It delves into issues of family, culture, gendered expectations, and perfectionism.
A great memoir about the effects of addiction on a person and their family. Author Nic Sheff, despite coming from a loving and supportive family, turned to drugs and used them long-term. His experiences reveal to readers that addiction and substance use truly do not discriminate. This book is accompanied by a memoir written by the author’s father David Sheff, titled Beautiful Boy. It has been made into a movie starring Steve Carrell. Tweak offers a very realistic and raw look at addiction and its grip on the human body and soul.
This poetry collection by a spoken word giant, Andrea Gibson, covers a variety of topics. It opens with a poem titled “The Madness Vase,” in which the author grapples with their own coming of age, identity, and mental health. Andrea Gibson is a non-binary person who has such a range of experience. Their experience is reflected beautifully in this poetry collection about grief, loss, family, mental health, being LGBTQIA+, class and more.
This collection by Sabrina Benaim includes poems about mental health and the realities of mental illness, as well as themes of love/relationships and family. Sabrina Benaim’s spoken word piece “Explaining my Depression to my Mother” is a salient and relatable introduction to this collection about depression and the realities faced by young people.
Perks is a coming-of-age story about a boy named Charlie. As the book opens, it’s revealed that his friend has taken his own life. Throughout the text, Charlie struggles with belonging, finding a group of friends, and constantly worrying about the people around him at the expense of himself. His own mental health is fragile, but his innermost thoughts pull us into his story as he seeks to come of age while experiencing the fallout of trauma and manage a mental illness.
OCDaniel is a great look at the realities of OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is stereotyped in mainstream media. It’s depiction includes severe tics and germophobia. But there’s much more to it! The wonderful thing about this book is that the author draws from his own experience with OCD to create a story that readers can relate to.
When I first read Prozac Nation, I was in high school. While officially a memoir, it’s also a feminist manifesto. It describes many of the realities women face in mental healthcare and systems that medicate, prescribe, and pathologize. Wurtzel does not sugar coat any part of her experiences being hospitalized or medicated, which contribute to the rawness and power of this memoir.
Good Enough is a wonderful fiction story about a girl named Riley, who struggles with an eating disorder. When it comes to eating disorders, it’s difficult to write stories without engaging in tropes or myths and misconceptions. Jen Petro-Roy’s experience with an eating disorder informs her writing of this book. She also penned a beautiful nonfiction guide, You Are Enough: Your Guide to Body Image and Eating Disorders. Together, these books teach middle grade students about body acceptance, fat phobia, and how to help people with eating disorders.
This graphic novel is pure power. It’s a memoir by Jarrett Krosoczka about family and addiction. The decision to translate this work into a graphic memoir is brilliant and bold. The author grew up with a mother addicted to drugs and a missing father. He found solace in art and drawing. So it makes sense that this book is a graphic novel because the author’s love for visual art and image is embedded in the incredible story. The genre makes this book accessible to middle grade students, and relatable and real to secondary students.
This guide outlines resources for clothing, counseling, economic support, employment services, food, housing and shelter, transportation, and recreational activities.
Youth at First Lutheran organize a clothing closet for teenage youth in the area. They accept, sort, and organize the clothing. If you know of anyone who could use some assistance please drop in for shopping on Mondays from 4-6pm or schedule an appointment with a volunteer by calling the church office at 608-783-2236. The Clothes Closet is located at Trinity Lutheran Church at 1010 Sill Street La Crosse, WI (enter on the Charles Street side of the building).
Distribution is on the first school Monday of the month from 4:00-5:15pm at Irving Pertzsch Elementary Door I.
Learn about resilience, how to build it in your life and your community, and resources available to help people and communities be connected, stronger, and thriving.