Supporting Military Children’s Mental Health: Family Resources
Supporting the Mental Health of Children in Military-Connected Families
Understanding the Unique Challenges
Children in military-connected families face unique challenges that can impact their mental well-being. These challenges include the uncertainty of frequent relocations, adapting to new school environments, building new friendships, and coping with separation from extended family members or deployed parents.
If you’re raising a child in a military family, you may wonder what resources are available to support their mental health. Understanding these challenges and learning how to advocate for your child can make a significant difference in their well-being and resilience.
Mental health concerns in military-connected youth
Military-connected families often develop unique strengths, such as resilience and adaptability. However, research has identified several mental health concerns that may disproportionately affect children in these families:
Depression
Studies indicate that adolescents in military families may experience higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to their peers. Recognizing the signs of depression in children and adolescents is crucial for early intervention and support.
Anxiety
The unpredictability of military life can trigger anxiety in children. Concerns about a parent’s safety during deployment, uncertainty about future moves, or worry about maintaining friendships can all contribute to feelings of anxiety.
Adjustment difficulties
Children typically need one to three months to adapt to a new school environment. During this adjustment period, academic performance may temporarily decline, and behavioral issues might emerge. Some children may struggle with authority figures or have difficulty engaging in classroom activities.
Unlike their civilian peers who might participate in the same extracurricular activities throughout their school years, military children often face disruptions in these activities due to relocations, potentially impacting their sense of identity and achievement.
Social connection challenges
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Social connections are vital for development, yet military children frequently face obstacles in forming and maintaining friendships due to regular relocations.
Additional stressors
Military children often experience unique stressors, such as increased family responsibilities during a parent’s deployment, anxiety about a deployed parent’s safety, or difficulty planning for their future due to uncertainty about where they might live next.
Substance use risks
Research suggests that youth in military families may face elevated risks related to substance use, potentially as a coping mechanism for stress or adjustment difficulties.
Other challenges
Military children may also experience grief, trauma, or other mental health conditions unrelated to military life. Factors such as deployment length can increase the risk of particular mental health challenges in military-connected youth.
It’s important to remember that mental health challenges can affect any child, regardless of their family’s military status. According to the CDC, one in six children across the United States has a diagnosed behavioral, developmental, or mental health condition. Parents should never blame themselves when their children experience these challenges.
Supporting youth mental health in military-connected families
While military families face unique challenges, they also possess remarkable strengths and resilience. Here are strategies for supporting the mental health of children in military-connected families:
Open discussions about mental health
Mental health challenges are nothing to be ashamed of, and research shows that talking openly about these issues can lead to symptom reduction. Creating an environment where mental health discussions are normalized helps children develop the vocabulary to describe their emotions and encourages them to seek help when needed.
These conversations also foster empathy and understanding toward others experiencing mental health challenges, helping children develop compassion for peers who might be struggling.
Teach healthy emotional expression
Repressing emotions can be detrimental to mental health. Teaching children to identify and express their feelings in healthy ways is a valuable life skill that can begin at any age. Introduce age-appropriate coping strategies such as deep breathing exercises, journaling, or using feelings wheels to help children identify and articulate their emotions.
Provide consistency where possible
While military life involves change, establishing consistent routines and family traditions can provide children with a sense of stability. Maintaining familiar bedtime routines, meal traditions, or family activities can create predictability amid change. Verbally reassure your child that their emotional responses to change are valid and normal.
Seek professional support
Various forms of mental health support are available for military-connected children, including individual therapy, family counseling, and support groups specifically designed for military kids. Your child’s primary care provider can help connect you with appropriate resources.
Find support for yourself
Parents in military families also need support. Your mental well-being directly impacts your ability to support your child effectively. You may have specific concerns about how to communicate difficult news to your child, such as an upcoming move or deployment. You might also experience your own mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Support groups for military families can provide valuable connections with others who understand your unique challenges. For families who relocate frequently, telehealth therapy services through platforms like ReachLink offer continuity of care regardless of location. ReachLink’s virtual therapy services allow military families to maintain consistent mental health support even when moving to new duty stations.
Research confirms the effectiveness of telehealth therapy, with one study finding that military and veteran populations experienced significant mental health benefits from online cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions, including improvements in sleep quality and reductions in depression and PTSD symptoms.
Moving forward with support
Being part of a military family presents unique challenges for children. They may experience depression, anxiety, or stress related to a parent’s deployment. The frequent relocations characteristic of military life can disrupt friendships, educational progress, and participation in activities.
If your family is struggling with these challenges, speaking with a licensed mental health professional who understands military life can make a significant difference. ReachLink’s therapists can provide support through deployments, relocations, and other military-specific challenges, equipping both you and your children with effective coping tools.
Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Reach out to a mental health provider today to begin building resilience for your entire family.
