A survey done by Blue Shield showed that one in three parents are worried about their kids' mental health.
David Bond, LCSW, Director of Behavioral Health for Blue Shield of California, told KCBS Radio that "two thirds of the thousand people we asked the questions of, said that they talked to their kids about mental health at least once a month."
Nine months into the pandemic, and in the midst of a drastic surge in cases, many parents’ concerns have shifted from things like remote learning and adjusting to a more isolated lifestyle to the virus itself.
Bond said the research shows that parents are engaging with their kids on issues related to “depression and a lot of anxiety.”
This willingness to talk as a family shows us that "stigma really is being reduced and we need to keep walking up that hill to make sure we’re comfortable talking about how we’re doing," according to Bond.
The goal of the study was to find out what is causing parents stress during the coronavirus pandemic, and how those things are "impacting their interactions in the family, and their parenting." Bond stressed just how important it is to keep the communication going with family members and loved ones about how they’re doing during the pandemic.
