Parents of Children 16 & Under : The Parent Support Network - National

The Youth Mental Health Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and support families and communities to better understand and care for the mental health of our youth.

We envision a world made up of informed families and caring communities that realize and strengthen the mental health of our youth — a world where people are just as aware of their mental health as their physical health, where families are validated and able to readily access the care they need.

The Parent Support Network is a program of The Youth Mental Health Project

Supporting our kids means supporting their parents1 and caregivers! Parenting can be challenging under the best of circumstances. But when a child, teenager, or young adult struggles with emotional, mental or behavioral health problems, parenting can be overwhelming and isolating.

The Parent Support Network provides parents and caregivers who are concerned about their children’s mental health with an opportunity to find and support each other in a confidential and safe space.

Meetings are confidential, free and open to any parent or guardian who is concerned about their kids (ages 1 – 25) who struggle with anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, or other emotional, behavioral or mental health problems.

Regional chapters of The Parent Support Network, hold confidential and free parent support meetings which are run by volunteer, trained Facilitators. ALL Facilitators are parents with experience raising a child who has struggled with his or her mental health. In addition, National virtual meetings are available every week for parents residing anywhere in the United States.

Check out our webinars on our Youtube page.

DISCLAIMER:

The Parent Support Network is a support program for parents and adult guardians (including grandparents, foster parents, and step-parents) who are concerned about their child's mental health. "Children" are typically 25 years of age or younger. The Facilitators of parent support meetings are volunteer parents who are trained by The Youth Mental Health Project to facilitate meetings in accordance with program guidelines. The support and guidance they provide is based on their experience as parents and is not meant to be a substitute for advice provided by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. 

Health care professionals, students, teachers, and any other professionals who are interested in The Parent Support Network are NOT invited to attend parent support meetings, unless they are attending because they are parents who are concerned about their own child's mental health. 

Confidentiality and privacy are essential components of the program. All Facilitators and attendees of support meetings must agree to keep any and all information about other Facilitators and attendees completely confidential. Any information, including contact information, gathered by The Youth Mental Health Project will remain private and will not be shared without express permission. Attendees are encouraged to speak and share, but no one is required to do so. 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT a counseling or crisis intervention service. Individuals in need of these services should contact their health care provider or community mental health center. Advice and support from parents is not a replacement for professional mental health care. If you or someone you know is having immediate thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harm to others, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 74174, or call 911.

1 “PARENTS” are defined as any adult caregiver, including but not limited to parents, guardians, grandparents, foster or step-parents of a child under the age of 25 who has or is struggling with his or her mental health.