The NAN Project recognizes the critical role of parents and caregivers in mental health awareness and suicide prevention for young people.
All of our programming is offered free of charge, virtually or in-person, and tailored to meet the specific needs or concerns of your parent group.
WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Can We Talk?
MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS STUDENTS HAVE (BUT ARE AFRAID TO ASK)
During our student presentations, we receive many questions from the youth lens, including how to talk to friends and family about mental health, what do different diagnoses look like, how to identify supports, etc. This workshop offers a look into those specific questions, and strategic suggestions on how parents can safely and appropriately respond when mental health topics come up in their homes.
When to Worry: Know the FACTS
If you're worried about your child's mental health, you're not alone. Rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality in youth are impacting every community in Massachusetts, and across the country. As parents and caregivers, it can be difficult to know what to look out for in your child, and when it's time to worry. This training will provide a practical outline of the FACTS (feelings, actions, changes, threats, and situations) that may indicate a child is struggling, and suggestions on how to start a conversation with a young person in crisis.
PEER MENTOR PRESENTATIONS FOR PARENTS
These stories detail our Peer Mentors’ struggles with mental illness and other issues facing young people, but more importantly, discuss the supports they were able to access and the coping strategies they have employed to find a path to recovery. By presenting these stories,we create a safe space for parents and young people to talk about mental health. In these presentations we also cover the signs and risks of a child who may be struggling, as well as how to get them help in a crisis.
“Very clear information with tips and specific actions to watch out for in troubled times.” -Parent, Lowell
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PRESENTATIONS FOR PARENTS
The NAN Project is an initiatitve which seeks to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs in classrooms across Massachusetts.
We do this through a peer-to-peer model, where our peer mentors present their comeback stories to students with the goal of opening up the conversation around mental health issues and reducing the stigma. These stories detail their struggles with mental illness, trauma, sexual orientation/gender identity, or other issues facing young people, but more importantly, discuss the supports they were able to access and the coping strategies they have employed to find a path to recovery. This approach creates a safe space for students to discuss mental health and related topics, and educates them on the resources available and the steps they should take if they are concerned about themselves or a loved one.
We also offer training to staff, teachers, school nurses, paraprofessionals, parents and students around the risks, signs and responses to a young person in crisis. Our goal is to ensure all youth understand there is help and there is hope for themselves or their peers.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Handhold
- Designed for parents who question if they should be concerned about their child’s behavior
Parents Helping Parents
- Parent Peer Support Groups and Parental Stress-line.