san antonio – Evalyn Fullers’ mental health began to deteriorate during the pandemic, when the whole world was confined to her screens.
“I didn’t like talking to people outside of my family, so I was very isolated,” said Fullers, 15. During the pandemic, I felt like I wasn’t cut out for social media, just like I didn’t have any friends. ”
She became withdrawn, depressed, felt worthless, and eventually considered suicide.
Fraas told friends she thought and acted like she was joking. So, even though it was difficult, she told her mother, Deborah Bali.
“She informed me about the amputation. She seemed to be hiding it, and by that time her personality had completely changed,” Bari said.
She immediately called for help for her daughter, and her life was saved.
“It took too long. That’s the part I still regret and now I want to help others with it,” Bari said.
Mr Bali said the intense stigma surrounding mental health not only affected children but also their parents.
“When we talk about our children’s struggles, there’s a stigma attached to you that you’re a bad parent. We start to take it personally and start blaming ourselves. It prevents us from reaching them. The only time we really connected was when I stopped talking and started listening. I really listened to what she was going through. ,” Bari said.
Now, the mother-daughter duo wants to break down the stigma around mental health by supporting initiatives such as the new CHAAT program, which represents community health awareness for youth and teens.
CHAAT was created by Bexar County. healthcare service centerconnected to Texas.
This move was made through a series of events. Surgeon General’s recommendations Warn about the effects of social media on children, lawsuit Speak out against social media companies over the decline in children’s mental health; new evidence Yale University School of Medicine confirmed the negative effects of social media.
Bexar County and the state of Texas decided enough was enough and created the CHAAT program to teach families the reality of what is happening.
“We currently have a series of four presentations on online gaming, online grooming, the pros and cons of social media use, and sleep hygiene,” said Delores Haynes, pediatric clinical director at the Center for Health Care Services. Masu.
Haynes wants children to think carefully.
“‘Am I playing with other kids or with adults?’ And this person might have a friend request. Isn’t it best to post everything? We teach our kids that something isn’t there. And even if you delete a post online, it doesn’t really go away,” Haynes said.
This program helps parents learn how to set boundaries.
“Use parental controls on your phone and social media sites. Be sure to respect age restrictions on social media sites, because even TikTok has age restrictions that prevent you from having an account,” Haynes said.
Haynes said parents can also use the same app.
“If there’s a site you know your child is accessing, create an account for yourself. If you want to keep that account, your child needs to be friends with you,” she said. Ta.
This is especially important when it comes to video games.
“If you have a kid who’s really interested in online games, look into all of those games. Understand what the games are about. Are they playing with other players around the country? How can we control it?” Haynes said.
These boundaries concern not only what children do with their phones, but also when they have them.
“Kids often say, “Well, I need a phone in my room.” I need an alarm.” Well, get a traditional alarm clock. “Blue light is specifically designed to keep us conscious and alert,” Haynes said. “So if your teenager is on the phone right before bed, it can be difficult for them to relax and fall asleep.”
If parents want their children to spend less time on their phones, they should lead by example and put down their phones more often, Haynes said.
The CHAAT program also encourages families to look for signs of negative social media use.
“Whenever you walk into a room, the screen changes. If their behavior is starting to change, if they’re starting to become a little more withdrawn, it could be that they’re potentially being bullied or they’re being exposed to unwanted material online. It’s possible. They may have developed a friendship with someone they don’t know,” Haynes said.
Fraas said the most important thing to learn is what to do if someone is in crisis.
“If a friend tells you they’re suicidal, you need to take them seriously and ask them if they’re OK,” she says.
Fraas is constantly checking in on herself and others using the mental health tools she’s learned since her own crisis.
“I have friends. They told me they were hurting and needed help. So I told someone. Then we talked about what happened to her parents. We let them know if they were there and helped them get the appropriate support,” Fraas said.
That’s the ripple effect Fraas hopes the CHAAT program will create.
Anyone interested in the CHAAT program can request CHCS to offer it to their school, church, youth group, or even family.
you can Email CHCS here Or call us at (210) 261-2427.
To report someone in crisis, call (210) 223-7233.
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