Resources for Helping Kids
Confront Anxiety Issues
and Build Resilience
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
from MHA National: 8 Ways You Can Take Action for Mental Health
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Join MHA's advocacy network and support legislative campaigns to protect America's mental health.
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Wear lime green, the official color of Mental Health Month, and post online with #MentalHealthAction.
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Do some spring cleaning with mental health in mind! Remove objects in your home that might trigger negative thoughts or habits.
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Check in on yourself and take a mental health screening at MHAscreening.org.
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Download MHA’s mental health month toolkit to learn how surroundings impact mental health and take actions to improve your well-being.
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Get outside and participate in the L.L.Bean Feel-Good Challenge.
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Attend an upcoming webinar. View MHA's upcoming calendar here.
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Stop and smell the roses ... literally! Studies show that being surrounded by nature is a mood booster. While you’re at it, consider adding plants to your space. They will improve air quality and cognitive functioning.
🧠 Foundational Education & Guidance
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Child Anxiety Basics — Clear explanations of what anxiety looks like in kids, including physical symptoms like stomachaches and avoidance behaviors. https://childmind.org/topics/anxiety/
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Helping Anxious Kids — Evidence-based strategies such as respecting feelings without reinforcing fears, modeling healthy coping, and encouraging gradual exposure to feared situations. https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety
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Mindfulness & Emotional Regulation — Short animated videos and mindfulness practices that help kids regulate emotions and build resilience.
📚 Books for Kids & Families
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Kids’ Books About Anxiety — Curated by clinicians, these titles use metaphors, humor, and gentle storytelling to help kids understand feelings and practice coping skills .
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Parent Guides on Anxiety — Books that teach adults how to support children without unintentionally reinforcing avoidance or fear responses (inferred from expert guidance) .
🧩 Therapeutic & Skill‑Building Tools
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CBT‑Aligned Coping Strategies — Techniques like naming feelings, reframing thoughts, and practicing small exposure steps, which are shown to reduce anxiety over time .
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School Anxiety Supports — Guidance for managing test anxiety, separation anxiety, and academic stress, plus tips for collaborating with teachers and counselors .
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Mindfulness Practices — Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and classroom-friendly mindfulness routines that help kids build emotional resilience .
🏫 School & Community Supports
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School-Based Anxiety Guidance — Resources on how anxiety affects learning, how to help kids with fears at school, and when to involve school mental‑health staff .
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Accessing Professional Care — Step-by-step guidance on finding clinicians, navigating insurance, and preparing for appointments when professional help is needed .
🛡️ Resilience‑Building Activities
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Confidence & Coping Skills — Activities that build problem‑solving, emotional literacy, and tolerance for discomfort (inferred from expert recommendations) .
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Transition & Change Supports — Tools for helping kids navigate difficult transitions, which often trigger anxiety and require resilience-building strategies .
🧡 Parent & Caregiver Supports
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What to Do (and Not Do) — Expert guidance on avoiding overprotection, expressing realistic confidence, and helping kids face fears gradually . https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious
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Family Mental Health Toolkits — Resources for handling hard moments, talking about mental health, and supporting kids through emotional challenges . https://childmind.org/topics/resources-for-mental-health-awareness-month
https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/childrens-mental-health-resources
