People often say that “kids don’t come with a manual” to illustrate the fear and frustration that comes from learning to parent one challenge at a time.
This is especially true for caregivers who face added difficulties due to the child’s mental health struggles. If mental health isn’t discussed in your family or social circles, you may not know where to begin. What you need is clarity about the realities of children’s mental illness. Explore our blogs and videos for tips!

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Managing Expectations in a Post-Pandemic World
To quote a May 2022 LinkedIn news story: “The children’s mental health crisis didn’t start with COVID-19. But the pandemic served as an accelerant, exacerbating…
read moreTeen Dating Violence
According to the 2021 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey “over 71% of women and over 55% of men experienced intimate partner violence (sexual,…
read moreTips for sharing and dealing with your inner emotions
Everyone has emotions and it is especially important that we deal with those feelings in the most positive and healthy way. Our inner emotions are…
read moreBuilding Resilience in our Children: The Need to Create Collectivist Communities in an Individualistic Society
At our church, we host asylum-seeking families from around the world. Most are passing through and stay for just a day. We offer them food,…
read moreConversations with Clarity: Let’s Talk About Foster Care
On May 13, 2022, Jessica Knudsen, the President and CEO of Clarity Child Guidance Center, hosted a panel discussion on the foster care system with…
read moreAdolescents: Venn-diagrams
“Yikes! this kid of mine? What in the world happened to them?” Often, counselors will hear parents lament about the challenges of their adolescent. “He’s…
read moreNavigating Military Deployments with Children: Interactive Ideas to Share the Time and Experience as a Family
Deployments are a challenge. Deployments as a family have added complexities. Often, it initially seems that the nature of extended military separations and children’s capacity…
read moreTeaching in Traumatizing Times: Navigating Vicarious Trauma in the Classroom
The mounting stressors in teaching—changes in funding, pressures in state testing, disengaged parents, school violence—were already contributing to increased burnout for many teachers. Now, as…
read moreTeaching in Traumatizing Times: Fostering Parent-Teacher Collaborations
We know that collaboration between parents and teachers is critical for a student’s academic achievement. We also know it’s a difficult task, and one that…
read moreTeaching in Traumatizing Times: Listening to Misbehavior
“Why can’t you just behave?” I’m sure this thought has crossed each teacher’s and parent’s mind at least once. You may even be thinking about…
read moreStop the Stigma of Mental Illness
People living with mental illness often say the stigma and discrimination associated with their illness can be worse than the mental illness itself. So what…
read moreJoin the conversation on mental health in your neighborhood
One in Five Minds is hosting a series of Community Conversations on Children’s Mental Health throughout San Antonio. The first one will be held August…
read moreSenator Creigh Deeds: The Urgency Of Now
Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was the keynote luncheon speaker at Claritycon2015 in San Antonio, Texas on June 18, 2015. Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds…
read moreBecoming Part Of The Solution: “We Work With Their Diagnosis, Not Against It.”
During Mental Health Awareness Month, Trudy shared her story of raising multiple children who struggle with mental illness. This is a condensed version of her…
read moreSteps San Antonio is Taking to Improve Children’s Mental Health
The sad part of society, according to Judge Nelson Wolff, is that we make things worse for people with mental illness. Wolff was one of…
read moreCurrent State Of Mental Health Services In San Antonio
Clarity Child Guidance Center, sponsor of the advocacy campaign One in Five Minds, held a press conference May 6, 2015, during National Children’s Mental Health…
read moreBe The Wind That Makes Pinwheels For Hope Turn
“I am not giving up. I am not throwing in the towel. And I am going to continuously share my family’s story!” said Justice Luz…
read moreRecognizing Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and One in Five Minds is raising awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives, especially in the…
read moreWhy are we afraid to talk about mental illness?
A couple of weeks ago a woman I have not spoken to in thirty years contacted me to ask for my advice regarding her college-age…
read moreMental Health, The Global Economy, And Dr. Seuss
It is fun to have fun but you have to know how. – Dr. Seuss Is there any sound as joyful as a child laughing?…
read moreYouth & Technology: Is It Time for a Reset?
Technology is an integral part of families and children’s life. It has its advantages, but can also create new challenges, and the impact of technology…
read moreHow can families still find hope and strength 8 months into the pandemic
As we enter our eighth month of this global pandemic, and what feels like our “new normal,” I’ve been thinking of the families and kids…
read moreThe Benefits of Setting Clear Boundaries at Home for Children
Even in normal conditions children will often try to test our boundaries. The changes brought by COVID-19 added a level of difficulty to keep boundaries…
read moreFostering a Positive Family Environment During Stressful Times
Director of Outpatient Clinical Services Joshua Essery, PsyD, ABPP provides insight on fostering a positive family environment during stressful times like COVID. In this important…
read moreBack to School in 2020
When community numbers of COVID-19 cases started to rise, my husband and I were faced with some serious decisions regarding childcare for the twins. We…
read moreWords to Live By
When my now three year old twins started attending childcare, I struggled with the message that I wanted to send them out the door with…
read moreFrom Adversaries To Allies: How Single Parents And Teachers Can Partner For Student Success
I still remember the feeling of existential dread as I waited outside my son’s classroom for our parent teacher conference. Eric’s fifth-grade year had been…
read moreSocial Isolation In Children At Home Or At School: What You Can Do To Help
Humans are wired to be communal and connected with others. So when we become socially isolated from others, it can affect our mental health. This…
read moreHow To Talk To Kids About Race And Racism
The deaths of Amaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd (among many others) have placed a spotlight on racism globally. As a result, you may…
read moreSetting Up Your ADHD Child For Success
If you have a child with ADHD, it may feel like you should get a gold sticker (or two!) just for getting your kids up,…
read moreUnderstanding The Mental Health Risks For Children In Foster Care
For children who grow up in foster care, life is unpredictable. They have to struggle with the instability that comes with moving from family to…
read moreBe Aware Of These 6 Hidden Signs Of Depression
When you think of someone struggling with depression, what comes to mind? You probably imagine someone who is sad, withdrawn, has low energy and is…
read moreDoes My Child Have Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder – it’s a clinical term that’s often used in popular culture in a way that’s completely different than the clinical meaning of the…
read moreHow Military Parents Miss The Warning Signs Of Mental Illness In Their Kids
“I can’t believe I didn’t see this sooner.” It’s an agonizing moment when you realize your child is possibly dealing with a mental illness. You’re…
read moreMental Health Days – What To Do When Your Child Just Won’t Go To School
For many parents, the middle of August is the most wonderful time of the year. After hearing a thousand iterations of “I’m bored!” and waging…
read moreUpstream – With a Paddle: Emerging Trauma Research, Developmental Considerations and Parenting Tips
Tim Johanson, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Pediatric Residency training Program. In this 4-part…
read moreHow To Afford Mental Health Treatment
Navigating the sometimes-complicated pathways to get to the right care for a child experiencing mental health issues can be frustrating. Once you do find the…
read moreYou’re Not Alone: Finding A Support System When Your Child Struggles With Mental Illness
When children are sick with physical illnesses like cancer, the entire community rallies around the family. Friends bring casseroles, offer to watch the child’s siblings…
read moreNavigating Summer Plans For A Child With Mental Illness: Pools, Popsicles, And Paying For Special Needs Care
My youngest daughter turns 13 in a few weeks. For the first summer in ten years of balancing work and motherhood, I don’t have to…
read moreAs a Teacher How Can You and the School Help?
“Kids spend six hours a day in school, and mental health is essential to learning. So schools that are very data-driven understand that in order…
read moreFeeling Thankful In The Midst Of Challenges
Since my children were young, we’ve practiced the same Thanksgiving tradition. During the first week of November, we sit down together and make our “Thankful…
read moreWhat If Your Child Is The Bully?
As the police car pulled out of the elementary school parking lot, my 11-year-old son handcuffed and sobbing inside, I turned to the principal. Tears…
read moreUnderstanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Imagine waking up in the morning and sitting up in bed, and repeating that action 41 more times.Imagine turning your body to put your feet…
read moreChildren’s Mental Health And The Juvenile Justice System
Perhaps one of a parent’s greatest fears is having a child get in trouble with the law. That fear is amplified for parents who have…
read moreMental Illness And Your College-Bound Child
Going away to college – it’s a rite of passage for many and a time of huge personal growth and change. But for young adults…
read moreStrength Amid The Stress: Nurturing Yourself And Your Spouse
Marriage isn’t easy even under the best of circumstances. A marriage enduring the stress of caring for an ill family member is perhaps one of…
read moreWhat To Expect At Your Child’s First Appointment With The Psychiatrist
Remember the feelings you had as a child when you had to go to a doctor appointment or visit the dentist? It may have been…
read moreSudden and tragic loss
The death of a loved one is always sad and upsetting. However, when it comes to grieving, the particulars of the loss are important. When…
read moreWhen is psychiatric hospitalization necessary?
Bleeding. Broken bones. Chest pain. Shortness of breath. It’s pretty easy to know when it’s time to take your child to the hospital over a…
read moreIs The Emergency Room The Best Choice For Your Child’s Mental Illness Crisis?
Your child is in crisis. He is exhibiting symptoms of a mental health emergency, and you know he needs treatment right away. We’re fortunate to…
read moreIn Honor Of Military And Veteran Families: Talking With Children About Military Service
Veterans Day is a time to step back and honor those who have served or are currently serving our country. It’s a day to reflect…
read moreSettling In After A Move? Some Quick Resources And Suggestions To Support Your Military-Connected Child
As we settle into fall, the big military moving season is behind us. And if you experienced a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) over the…
read moreChampioning Your Military Child: How To Advocate For Their Success And Mental Health
The role of an advocate is to support, speak on behalf of, promote, protect, and champion. Children, even if they are nearing legal age, require…
read more4 Reasons Why Military Moms Are True Superheroes
As Mother’s Day approaches, I would like to take the opportunity to shine a light on military moms. You are all truly amazing, and here…
read moreSupporting Military Children in the Classroom
Having a parent leave for a deployments and extended separation (four to six months or more) is a common experience for military families. While all…
read moreThe Month Of The Military Child: Strength, Resilience, And Challenges For The Youth Of Our Service Members
“We are the children of warriors. And although it was initially a role not of our choosing, it is a role perpetuated by many of…
read morePromoting Military Family Resilience Through Self-Care
Resilience is a word that military families hear often, so often that it may just sound like a modern buzzword tossed out at briefings and…
read more5 Healthy Habits To Promote Mental Wellness For Military Families
It’s a new year, and that means it’s a perfect time to reflect on our habits and goals for ourselves and our family – especially…
read moreSupporting Your Service Member Spouse Through Re-Deployment
The time leading up to your spouse returning from deployment is often a frenzy of varied emotions, tasks in preparation, and expectations for the time…
read moreFour Common Challenges That Military Kids Face … And What Parents Can Do To Help
If you grew up in a military family, you know that many of the challenges you faced were different than those of your civilian friends.…
read moreSupporting Families Impacted by PTSD
Jill E. Palmer, LCSW, is Clinic Director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Clinic at Endeavors, San Antonio. In this video presentation she discusses support for…
read moreHow Trauma Affects Kids In Schools
Turn on the news or check your phone updates and it seems like we are being inundated with the news of traumatic events around the…
read moreBe a Fear Facer! Conceptualizing and Treating OCD
Stacia Daniel, PhD, is certified by the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) at the International OCD Foundation. In this video presentation she discusses obsessive compulsive…
read moreUnderstanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI): Effective Strategies for Working with Individuals who Self-Injure
Michael Moyer, PhD, LPC-S, is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, and Sydney A. Novoa, MA, LPC, is a doctoral student in the…
read moreDeployment and Transition
In this 5-part video series Kat Cole LCSW, Director for The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Family Endeavors in San Antonio, Texas discusses, Deployment…
read moreIs my child hiding his true feelings to protect me?
Is your child hiding their true feelings from you? You are not alone in asking this question- many parents ask the exact same thing. Dr.…
read moreUnderstanding your child’s emotions
Do you feel you have the tools to respond to your child’s wanted or unwanted feelings and emotions like anger, crying or fears? For parents,…
read moreDevelopmental Trauma: Causes and Treatments
Mark Jones, D.Min., LPC-S, LMFT-S, is board certified in neurofeedback (BCIA) and Quantitative EEG (QEEG), and an adjunct professor and director of the neurofeedback program…
read morePastoral Care And Mental Illness
Understanding mental illness and how to help a loved one experiencing it is a difficult challenge for friends and family… and clergy. In times of…
read moreThe Adolescent Brain
Jeannie Von Stultz, PhD, and Deputy Chief of Mental Health Services for Bexar County Juvenile Probation, provides an overview of adolescent brain development and how…
read moreWhat Parents And Students Experience During COVID-19: Hardships And Hidden Blessings
What has COVID-19 been like for parents of school-age kids? What did students experience? We asked Kim Sayers, MA, LPC-S, Clinical Project Director at Communities…
read moreBuilding New Learning Strategies for Students
The first time I walked into a classroom as a new teacher, I did all the wrong things. The course was a remedial English class…
read moreFrom Adversaries To Allies: How Single Parents And Teachers Can Partner For Student Success
I still remember the feeling of existential dread as I waited outside my son’s classroom for our parent teacher conference. Eric’s fifth-grade year had been…
read moreADHD in the Classroom
Dana Tiller, LPC, gives teachers and parents advice on how to help kids diagnosed with ADHD succeed in the classroom. She explains what’s going on…
read moreWhat Teachers Experienced During COVID-19
When we look back at the jobs that were dramatically impacted by COVID-19, teachers are at the top of the list. Overnight, they went from…
read moreHow Teachers Can Coach Parents During COVID-19
As an educator, you’re probably used to wearing many hats. Not only do you teach, but you are also a mentor, motivational speaker, a classroom…
read moreHow Teachers Can Talk to Parents Who Don’t Believe Mental Illness Is Real
We called him “Hurricane Eric.” This tiny five-year-old with white-blond hair and big blue eyes could go from calm and placid to Category 5 in…
read moreA Teacher’s Guide: What Does “Mental Health Crisis” Mean?
From your daily vantage point as a teacher in the classroom, you often notice shifts in your students’ emotions and behaviors that could be signs…
read moreSetting Boundaries — How to Be More “Selfish” at Work
Do you ever feel misunderstood as an educator? Do you get comments like, “It must be so nice to get summers off and get so…
read moreA Story of Hope: Healing From Transgenerational Trauma
Mary N. (name changed to protect privacy) was not the typical student in my first-year college experience. She always came to class early and sat…
read moreCase Study Of A Child With Mental Illness
For Soad Michelsen, MD, with a child there is always hope. Hope is more than a feeling, but an active verb that helps professionals and…
read moreWe Found The Casseroles!
Actually, we found the people who are willing to make and bring casseroles to families contending with mental illness and to encourage others to do…
read moreChildren’s mental health: Where are the casseroles?
We’re excited to collaborate with TEDxSanAntonio on a unique children’s mental health event this fall. It’s called the TEDxSanAntonio Salon on Children’s Mental Health – Where Are The…
read moreIt’s Time To Tell Our Stories
“Share your story” was one of the themes of the morning as we celebrated the one year anniversary of the One in Five Minds advocacy campaign, on…
read moreDid We Get It All Wrong?
When Dr. Marcela Polanco knocked on “Alicia’s” door to meet her daughter “Sophia”, she suddenly realized she hadn’t reviewed the little patient’s clinical history. In…
read moreOne In Five Minds Presents: A Conversation With Liza Long
On a cool October evening, nearly 200 people gathered to hear a parent’s perspective on raising a child contending with mental illness. Her story was…
read moreOne In Five Minds Launch…
The special launch event for One in Five Minds took place on Thursday, March 28, 2013, and over 200 attendees packed the auditorium at the Valero…
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