By Caroline Bohn, R.N., Senior Care Manager, Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania

Millions of Americans suffer with chronic pain issues, every day of their lives. Conditions such as migraines, back injuries, fibromyalgia, or neuropathy, for example, can cause serious, ongoing pain. Ongoing chronic pain can be a debilitating problem for those suffering with it. Dealing with a chronic pain issue can lead to additional problems, such as a loss of pleasure in life, inability to work, poor sleep or depression. People often seek treatment for chronic pain, to be able to live a better life.

We live in a fast-paced world where we can access just about anything, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can shop and order things on the internet at any time of the day or night, or even go to stores that are open 24/7. No longer must we wait for someone to get home and check an answering machine to receive our messages because we can reach out to others in an instant via cell phones, email, texting, and instant messaging. Going to the movie theatre or buying a DVD in the store are almost obsolete. The limitless availability of television and internet streaming services allow us to watch our favorite shows and movies at any time. The ability to get so many needs met instantly, leads us to expect this type of immediate fix for everything in our lives, including medical issues.

It is understandable that people desire immediate relief from pain, and there are many ways in which pain can be treated successfully and alleviated. One option, which people often choose, is the use of prescription pain medication. But the natural desire to relieve pain immediately can cause people to opt for taking pain medication before trying less invasive alternatives. There are many options for treating chronic pain without prescription medication. For example, interventions such as physical or occupational therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture, biofeedback, or cold laser therapy. Wearing supportive braces or orthotics can be helpful with eliminating pressure on inflamed areas. Yoga, weight loss, and therapeutic massage can aide in reducing muscle and joint pain. Mind-body techniques are also effective methods to address pain, such as meditation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing exercises. To clarify, the use of prescription pain medication is not an inappropriate choice, but it is wise to explore other options as well. Pain itself, is not a disease. Pain is a symptom or signal used to alert us that something is going wrong within the body. Use of medications to eliminate the pain signal, is not helping fix the problem that is causing the pain. The first step to solving a pain issue is to identify and address what is causing the pain so you do not have to experience pain in the first place. There are situations where it is not possible to eliminate the source of the pain completely, but in cases like these, there could be treatments available to lessen the severity of the pain, so it is manageable with less medication or without the use of medication at all.

Regular use of prescription medication to alleviate pain could cause other issues to arise, even when a medication is appropriately prescribed by a physician and taken according to the physician’s orders. Unfortunately, it is possible for your body to become dependent on certain types of prescription pain medication. Dependence on pain medication is evident when an individual experiences symptoms of withdrawal when taking less of the medication or stopping it altogether. If a person feels they must continue taking pain medication to avoid experiencing withdrawal when not taking it, this could indicate that their body has become dependent on it. If this occurs, a consultation with your physician to discuss next steps is essential.

There are different classes, or types, of pain medications which can be prescribed by your physician. One of these types, called opioids, has a greater risk for dependence than other types of prescription pain medication. If your body becomes dependent on opioid pain medication, it can be difficult to stop taking it. Opioid pain medications have a higher risk for causing withdrawal symptoms when discontinued than other types of pain medication. People could experience nausea, vomiting, sweating, feeling excessively hot or cold, or muscle aches throughout their body, when taking less of or stopping the opioid pain medication. If this were to happen, alerting your physician is crucial. Your physician can assist you with safely discontinuing an opioid pain medication, so you do not have any withdrawal symptoms. If you do not feel comfortable telling your physician you may be dependent on opioid pain medication, there are other ways to seek help. If you have access to the internet, you can visit the SAMHSA website (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment) to get education and information about seeking help with opioid pain medication dependence. If you do not have access to the internet, SAMHSA offer a toll-free helpline as well (SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

There is nothing wrong with seeking help when your health is at stake. Reaching out to a trusted family member or friend, to ask for their help, is also a great way to start on the road to your recovery. Above all, it is important to remember that maintaining your physical health and well-being, is crucial to living your best life.

Behavioral health is an important indicator of a society’s overall wellbeing, as it interacts closely with physical health. Unfortunately, most individuals do not receive the behavioral health treatment they need. Fear of treatment, shame, and embarrassment keep many from seeking care. More than one-third of Americans live in areas lacking mental health professionals.[1] Fifty percent of individuals who receive a behavioral health referral do not follow through or have only one visit.[2] Collaborative care addresses these problems by providing physical and behavioral health care in the primary care setting.

What is collaborative care?

Collaborative care is a specific type of integrated care developed at the University of Washington’s AIM Center that treats common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, that require systematic follow-up due to their persistence. Based on principles of effective treatment of chronic illness, collaborative care focuses on defined patient populations tracked in a registry, measurement-based practices, and treatment to target. Trained primary care providers and embedded behavioral health professionals provide evidence-based medication or psychosocial treatments, supported by regular psychiatric case consultation and treatment adjustment for patients who do not improve as expected.[3]

Principles of collaborative care

Developed in consultation with a group of national experts in integrated behavioral health care in 2011 with the support of the John A. Hartford Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and California Healthcare Foundation, five core principles define collaborative care and should inform every aspect of implementation to ensure effective collaborative care is practiced.[4]

• Patient-centered team care—Primary care and behavioral health providers effectively work together using shared care plans that include patient goals. Being able to receive both physical and mental health care in a familiar location provides patients with comfort and reduces duplication of assessments. Increased patient engagement often leads to a better health care experience and improved patient outcomes.
• Population-based care—Care teams share a specific group of patients that are included in a registry. The registry is used to track patients and ensure that no one falls through the cracks. Patients who do not show improvement are outreached, and behavioral health specialists offer caseload-focused consultation.
• Measurement-based treatment to target—Each patient’s treatment plan includes personal goals and clinical outcomes that are measured using evidence-based tools, such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale on a routine basis. If patients do not improve as expected, treatments are adjusted until clinical goals are met.
• Evidence-based care—Patients receive treatments with sound research evidence to support their efficacy in the treatment of the target condition, including various evidence-based psychotherapies that have proven effective in primary care, such as problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation, and cognitive behavioral therapy, and medicines.
• Accountable care—Providers are responsible for and receive reimbursement for the quality of care and clinical outcomes, not just the volume of care provided.

Collaborative care has been proven to double the effectiveness of depression care, improve physical function, and reduce health care costs. Magellan Healthcare’s evidence-based Collaborative Care Management product, enabled by NeuroFlow, provides care management and psychiatric consults for primary care patients and augments physical health providers’ staff with Magellan staff to facilitate integrated physical and behavioral healthcare. Learn more here.

[1] https://usafacts.org/articles/over-one-third-of-americans-live-in-areas-lacking-mental-health-professionals/

[2] https://aims.uw.edu/collaborative-care

[3] https://aims.uw.edu/collaborative-care

[4] https://aims.uw.edu/collaborative-care

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that suicide rates have risen to over 30% in the US since 1999.[1] Since COVID-19 began, suicidal ideation in the US has more than doubled, with younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers experiencing disproportionately worse effects.[2] As suicide has reached crisis-level proportions in our nation, it’s time to recognize suicide as a public health crisis and learn about the warning signs and the skills needed to save a life.

Know the warning signs of suicide

It is hard to tell whether a person is thinking of suicide. Most people who take their own life show one or more warning signs, either through what they say or do.

• Feelings: Expressing hopelessness, talking about suicide or having no reason to live, showing moods such as depression, anxiety, irritability
• Actions: Showing severe/overwhelming pain or distress, using drugs or alcohol, searching for ways to end their life
• Changes: Withdrawing from activities, isolating from friends and family, sleeping more or less
• Threats: Talking about, writing about or making plans to kill themselves
• Situations: Going through stressful situations including loss, change, personal humiliation or difficulties at home, school or with the law

Take action to prevent suicide

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among Americans between the ages 10 and 34, according to the CDC.[3] It is a major health crisis—and preventable. When someone says they are thinking about suicide or says things that sound as if they are considering suicide, it is important to pay attention and take action. Suicide is often preventable.

• Ask and listen: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” is not an easy question, however, a study by the National Institute of Mental Health shows considering suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts. Be willing to listen and discuss their feelings.
• Keep them safe: Reducing a person’s access to highly lethal objects or places is an important part of suicide prevention. Asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing access to lethal means can make a difference.
• Get them help: Connect with a trusted family member, friend or mental health professional. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800- 273-TALK (8255)) and the Crisis Text Line’s number (741741). Save these numbers in your phone so they’re there when you need them.
• Stay connected: Staying in touch after a crisis or discharge from care can make a difference. Let them know they matter and you care. Leave a message, send a text or call them.

For more information and helpful resources, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/Prevent-Suicide.

If you are in crisis or considering suicide, or if someone you know is currently in danger, please dial 911 immediately.

[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm

[3] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide

As I started my career with a passion to add value to the healthcare industry, I would never have been able to predict the rapid evolution we are experiencing today. Take, for example, specialty pharmacy. What originated nearly 50 years ago as a treatment solution for just a handful of conditions has grown exponentially into a $250 billion industry now treating hundreds of ultra-rare conditions and orphan diseases. The explosive growth of the specialty pipeline, combined with the high cost and complexity of managing specialty patients (who often have at least one other chronic condition or comorbidity), highlights the need for payers to stay ahead of the trend and deploy targeted, future-focused management strategies for better specialty drug management.

Tracking the Trends

In 2008, there were eight specialty drugs approved by the FDA; compare that to 2020 with 53 total specialty drugs, and half of those approved for medical benefit use. Not only are the number and scope of specialty drugs increasing, but so are costs. So far in 2021, five high-cost therapies have been approved with price tags of $400K to nearly $750K—this is the new normal. As high-cost and potentially life-saving drugs continue to enter the market, it becomes more and more difficult to determine which patients should receive them and how they will be paid for.

In 2012, about one-quarter of total pharmacy spend was attributed to specialty drugs; in 2020, we have reached 50%. When you drill down even more, about half of that spend occurs on the medical benefit. Going deeper, oncology remains the top driver when it comes to overall medical benefit costs as the highest-spend category for the past 11 years—representing nearly 50% of total per-member-per-month spend for the Commercial line of business and over 60% for Medicare.¹ How can employers and payers keep track of these evolving market dynamics?

The Power of Magellan Rx Excellence

At Magellan Rx Management, we have nearly two decades of experience creating flexible solutions that allow our customers to improve patient care, stay ahead of trends, and reduce specialty spend across both the traditional pharmacy and medical benefits. As the original experts in medical pharmacy management, we have a deep understanding of the trends and demonstrate our commitment to advance thought leadership in this space with the annual Magellan Rx Management Medical Pharmacy Trend Report^TM. This Report is a one-of-a-kind resource that highlights key areas of spend and trend across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines of business as well as management strategies for new and emerging therapies.

We also leverage our Expert Clinical Network of more than 175 key opinion leaders (KOLs) across multiple disease states that participate in peer-to-peer discussions and guide recommendations for patients with complex and hard-to-treat conditions. This is especially helpful for payers who lack in-house expertise in ultra-rare and orphan conditions as we work to secure specially matched, unbiased KOLs that are affiliated with major healthcare treatment centers nationwide.

And we don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Our legacy is solving complex pharmacy challenges and meeting the momentum of new developments head-on. In fact, that is what makes us stand apart from other PBMs—our integrated approach and account service model is designed to encourage innovation across clinical, formulary design, distribution channels, and medical pharmacy strategies. These unique solutions are prioritized and intrinsic to the value we bring as a partner.

• Medical Pharmacy Solutions with coordinated management across all sites of service, including utilization management support.
• Formulary Strategies for both traditional and medical pharmacy drugs that connect best-in-class formulary management and value-driven rebate solutions with clinical policies and medical pharmacy programs to manage costs.
• Specialty Pharmacy Distribution that takes a patient-centric, clinical approach to drive adherence and improve outcomes, along with cost avoidance and cost management solutions to reduce total cost of care.
• Condition-specific Programs that deliver better health outcomes and improved CMS STAR ratings.

One example of our devotion to excellence is the work we have done in preparation for the market entrance of oncology biosimilars. We started building the foundation in the autoimmune category and continued to refine our methodology, working hands-on with payers and pharma to create a solution that is not passive but evolves with the dynamic market. As such, our customers were able educate their providers and members prior to the availability of oncology biosimilars. Our impact? We’ve delivered over $40 million in annualized savings for early adopter health plans.

Unlock the Possibilities

I am proud to lead a team of industry experts and thought leaders who inspire me every day to challenge the status quo and add value to this complex area of healthcare spend. I would never have guessed that fifteen years post pharmacy school would have led me to where I am now, but I couldn’t be more grateful. Our team is poised to answer the industry’s toughest questions with thoughtful, clinically-focused solutions—and I’m confident we’re already prepared for the next wave of change. It’s in the spirit of our people to push the industry forward, and I take pride that we have the right experts collaborating with our customers to develop proven programs that drive real results.

Are rising specialty costs a concern? Let’s connect on how we can help solve your unique population’s needs. We’re here for you.

1. Magellan Rx Management Medical Pharmacy Trend Report™, 11^th Edition, © 2021

Over the past year COVID-19, community protests and increased social awareness have highlighted the impact of racism on the mental health of Black, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC). On April 8, 2021 Rochelle Wolensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that racism, “directly affects the well-being of millions of Americans. As a result, it affects the health of our entire nation.”

Magellan Healthcare is committed to increasing awareness about BIPOC mental health, wellness, and the importance of recognizing and addressing concerns. Learn more about racism and mental health.

Racism is a mental health issue because racism causes trauma. Racial trauma is the ongoing result of racism, racist bias, and exposure to racist abuse in the media and everyday life. Racial trauma can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their ability to have relationships, focus on school or work, and feel safe. People who experience racial discrimination and injustice can develop trauma that causes anxiety, chronic stress, depression, and other mental illnesses.

How racism affects mental health

For those who are affected by racism, it is important to remember that you are not alone. The push for social change is strong and there are many things you can do to protect your mental health during this time.

4 things you can do for your mental health

The following strategies can help you gain a sense of strength, build resilience and stay healthy.

Share your feelings—It is normal to be angry, to feel hopeless, to cover up your experience of racism, or to pretend that it has not affected you. Talking about your feelings is not a sign of weakness, but part of taking charge of your well-being and doing what you do to stay healthy. The simple act of talking to someone who makes you feel heard and understood can trigger hormones that calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Embrace your ethnicity and culture—Racism is often used as a weapon to belittle you as a human being and lower your self-esteem. You can counteract this and help deflect the pain of racism by developing a strong sense of your ethnic identity and strengthening your attachment to the community. Closer ties with people who share your experiences can help reduce the sense of isolation that often stems from racism.

Channeling your anger—No matter how justified your anger is, venting it uncontrollably will affect your judgment, reduce your chances of being heard, and negatively affect your health. Use your anger and channel it in a constructive way to bring about meaningful change. Join a community or activist group, engage in creative activity, or create a journal.

Take care of yourself—Because your body and mind are so closely linked, it is important to take care of yourself in times of overwhelming stress. You can improve your mood and your health by moving your body every day, learning ways to reduce stress such as deep breathing, making nutritious food choices, focusing on getting enough sleep, and finding a safe place to rest and recharge.

There are no easy answers to dealing with the pain of racial trauma. To move forward we need to take care of ourselves and our communities. We invite you to visit MagellanHealthcare.com/BIPOC-MH to learn more about Magellan events and other resources that are available to the public for BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month and to like and share our contributions on social media.

Sources: Mental Health America, HelpGuide.org, Medical News Today, Mentalhealth.org.uk

Read more about mental health topics.

Explore tips and information to protect your mental health and deal with grief and loss of loved ones due to the worldwide impacts of COVID-19.

When else in our lifetime can we say all people in all countries of the world have directly experienced grief and loss due to the same traumatic event? Now that we are living through the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the sad reality. Our very sense of normalcy has been turned upside down, we have lost loved ones, missed milestones and other life events, and faced social isolation. We all hear about the traumas that occur across our globe – 9/11, weather events, war – and we may be affected; but COVID-19 has profoundly touched and changed each of our lives in many similar ways. As our world is adjusting to a now improving, but still evolving, pandemic, here are some tips to protect our mental health.

Dealing with grief and loss from COVID-19

While it’s never easy when we lose a loved one, grief and loss during the pandemic has been exacerbated by the confusion, fear, and social isolation we have all experienced. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, did not come with an instruction manual and we had to learn, very quickly, how it was spread, how it affected those who got infected, and how to avoid being infected. Confusion around all of these things, and how a family member or friend could have died from this virus, was inevitable. At the same time, fear of the unknown and for one’s own health and safety was inescapable. Due to the critical social distancing measures, we could not even visit our loved ones in the hospital, even if the worst was expected. We could not begin our grieving process by honoring those we lost with traditional funeral services. As we’re navigating the stages of grief during COVID-19, here are some things to remember:

• You may hear about the “stages of grief,” but it’s normal to bounce back and forth between the stages and not experience them in a linear way.
• No matter what you’re feeling, your feelings are valid, and you are entitled to them; avoid telling yourself you should be feeling one way or another.
• Grieving doesn’t mean you are forgetting or totally letting go.
• It’s important to build a support system.
• With grief comes growth.

Practicing self-care to cope with grief and loss

Grieving is an intensely personal process. We can start to feel better when we reach out to loved ones and professionals for support, but there is no one who knows us better than ourselves, and we can always be our own best advocate. Knowing that our lost loved ones surely would want us to be happy and not suffer, it’s important to prioritize our own self-care and compassion to unlock its immense healing power. Engaging in self-care activities – exercise, journaling, meditation, doing something creative, etc. – can help us build resiliency and mental strength, elevate our mood, process our feelings, and cope effectively. As we strive to take care of and make time for ourselves, the following are some tips to keep in mind:

• Understand that grief is an ongoing process; it requires our self-patience and kindness.
• Realize that helping yourself does not mean you are avoiding the experience, rather that you are embracing it.
• Treat yourself the way you would treat a close friend or family member who is going through the same thing.
• Be deliberate and purposeful in taking breaks to mentally check out and/or do something that makes you happy or laugh.
• Focus on the present to ease the burdens of, and make more palatable, all that must be done that day, week, month, etc.
• Grant yourself permission to feel, as it’s a natural part of the grieving process; understand it’s okay to be vulnerable.

We can find meaning in the losses we have endured through this ordeal. Our lost loved ones gave us many gifts, and we can pick up on those gifts in celebration of their memories. We can embrace life and do the things that make us happy. We can reflect on the changes and losses caused by the pandemic that forced us to reevaluate our priorities, taking with us the good and leaving behind the bad. And we must always remember to seek help when it’s needed.

Think back to New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Maybe you had big plans that night to ring in the new year, or maybe you were spending a quiet evening at home. In either case, you probably had expectations about 2020 and hopes that it would be happy, healthy and prosperous…

Fast forward a couple months to February, 2020 when we began hearing more about a new coronavirus, COVID-19, originating from Wuhan, China that had made its way into the United States and was beginning to spread.

Changes caused by COVID-19

We started to see our world and our lives drastically change, experiencing loss and grief in several forms. For many of us, there were no more commutes to work, as we began to work from home if we were lucky enough to keep our job. There was no more getting the kids off to the bus stop or waiting in the drop-off line, as schools closed and switched to a virtual learning environment.

Parents lost the luxury of being able to fully concentrate on their jobs, as they were forced to take on the roles of teacher or daycare worker and daytime entertainer for their kids. Kids missed out on receiving the first-class education they depended on to feel prepared for the next school year or even college.

Healthcare workers risked their lives and those of their family to care for the people who were getting sick from COVID-19, worried they had been infected and wanted to get tested, or needed regular healthcare. Essential workers in grocery stores, post offices, public transportation, and other industries also became heroes as they continued to come to work to keep the country running, despite fearing for their own health and lives.

And there wasn’t a roll of toilet paper or paper towels to be found.

Social isolation

Across the board, we didn’t get to spend precious in-person time with our extended family and friends because we were doing our part to bend the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19. We didn’t get to go to the gym and may have fallen behind in our physical fitness. Our kids didn’t get to participate in their beloved sporting or other extracurricular events. Medical procedures were cancelled. Vacations were cancelled. Weddings were cancelled. Graduations were cancelled. Everything was cancelled.

Our dreams and plans were put on hold.

COVID-19 mental health toll

We certainly couldn’t have imagined this would be how the year would start off and end. Spring, summer, fall and winter, and all that comes with each, did not happen the way we have all become accustomed to for our entire lives.

And while we have done our best to adapt, the grief and loss of loved ones, financial security and social normality we have experienced over the past year has taken its toll on our mental health.

Where to go from here

We encourage you to watch a recording of our webinar “Coping with grief and loss during COVID-19” with Paula Hensley, MD, Magellan Healthcare senior medical director; Sagar Makanji, PharmD, Magellan Rx vice president, clinical strategy and programs; and Mark Santilli, PharmD, Magellan Rx senior director, clinical strategy and programs, as they share knowledge and tips for persevering after grief and loss due to COVID-19 and answer audience questions.

For additional COVID-19 resources from Magellan Health, click here.

Many of us can now say we have experienced the trials and tribulations of parenting during a pandemic. We have attempted to juggle full-time work and regular household duties, along with being a full-time teacher or daycare worker and entertainer for our kids. While we’re all doing the best we can in taking on these new and challenging roles, some parents and caregivers may be wondering about their child’s mental health after they have missed out on so much and dealt with new stress and uncertainty – certainly as many of us know that our own mental health has been affected.

If you’re worried about your child’s mental health or noticing any issues, read on for tips and knowledge shared by Magellan’s Linda Y. Evans, MD, FAPA, child psychiatrist and medical director, and Greg Dicharry, CPRP, youth empowerment director.

Children behavior changes

Changes in your child’s behavior may be a sign of mental health difficulties that should be closely monitored. Depending on the age of your child, stress can manifest in different ways. Toddlers and young children aged 2-6, may show signs of regression and lose the ability to do things previously learned, like toilet training. School-aged children and teenagers may show a disinterest in going to school and/or begin to see falling grades. The most common symptom in teenagers is irritable mood. Kids of all ages may experience vague body complaints, like a headache or belly ache, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, loss of pleasure in activities previously enjoyed, and withdrawal from social interactions.

Often, even the child may not recognize these symptoms as the result of mental health issues. It is important for parents and caregivers to be a barometer for behavioral or other changes in their children – as they may be the first to notice – to be able to identify if their mental health may be suffering. When parents keep the lines of communication open, allowing their kids to share their thoughts and feelings, they are better equipped to identify any troubling signs of childhood depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions.

The child’s primary care physician (PCP) also plays a role in screening for mental health concerns and can be a good first point of contact if parents are seeking additional help. With the shortage of child psychiatrists and mental health professionals trained to work with children in our country, PCPs are increasingly adopting a model of collaborative, or whole-person, care to screen and treat children for mental health issues before they get worse because of potentially waiting long periods to see a specialist.

Interrupted school and family routines

While there’s not much we can do about changing work, school and social arrangements due to the pandemic, it’s important to consider the stability of our kids’ environment and instill predictability in their lives to the extent that’s possible.

Additionally, there are many things that parents and caregivers can do to keep their kids content and engaged amid the chaos and unprecedented change we’re all experiencing. To make up for lost in-person social time with friends and family, virtual meetups can be scheduled. That could be a fifteen-minute Facetime call with grandma and grandpa every Wednesday night at 7:00, or a periodic Zoom/interactive video game gathering with friends. Parents can also take time with their kids away from the screens to play a board game or do a project to make home-time more fun. Exploring and supporting your kids’ passions is a way to get them involved in activities that will bridge the gaps of interrupted routines and help prevent negative mental health outcomes.

Family stress affecting children

We have all been affected by the drastic changes, uncertainty, loss and isolation caused by COVID-19. And it’s not hard for our own stress and worry to be noticed or even absorbed to some extent by our kids. While we’re focusing on our family’s well-being, it’s important to practice self-care and recognize that our own mental health is of paramount importance. Having healthy caregivers is an essential component in the normal development of kids.

When parents are navigating divorce and co-parenting arrangements during COVID-19, it can be even more difficult to filter out the negativity for our kids, especially when parents have different points of view about things like in-person vs. virtual learning, the vaccine and mask wearing. Although it can be difficult to share your kids with an ex-spouse, it’s important to remember they need both of their parents. When parents work together for the benefit of their children and keep the focus on them, the impacts of divorce can be mitigated. Implementing a flexible custody arrangement during COVID-19 is also encouraged; for example, if the child wants to see a parent when it’s not their day for visitation, it might be beneficial to the child to honor their request.

To alleviate stress and some of the burden, parents and caregivers can consider connecting with others who understand the struggles and support each other. They can look for parent support groups in their communities.

Back to school and bullying

For kids who experience any level of social anxiety, the transition back to school, or even a new school, from the comfort of home may be more difficult. While some kids may be happy to get right back to the in-person learning environment, a gradual adjustment may work better for others.

Teachers can be especially helpful in ensuring that children are adjusting well and that a child withdrawing from the group is noticed. When the teacher has a trusting relationship with students, they can initiate conversations to try to understand how a child is doing and if their emotional needs are being met. The teacher’s insights are critical for parents and caregivers who cannot be with their kids at school.

Parents and teachers should be especially sensitive to look for bullying and have a zero-tolerance policy for kids being cruel to one another. Children must understand that bullying is unacceptable, as it can lead to serious and disastrous consequences for those who are targeted.

In general, what kids need for healthy development is a stable routine, predictability, a safe environment and healthy parents or caregivers. COVID-19 has disrupted all of these conditions, leading to increased mental health disorders and interrupted development. There are many things that parents and caregivers can do to nurture their child’s mental health and address what they need for healthy development. We encourage you to explore Magellan’s following resources for additional information and support:

• Mental Health Month website for comprehensive tips and resources to support yours and your family’s mental health.
  • Be sure to check out the recording of our webinar, How are your kids doing? under “Previous events”
• Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Children and Adolescents at High Risk: Foundations of a Model clinical monograph highlighting evidence-based research on the prevention and treatment of problematic behaviors and various types of behavioral health challenges in children and adolescents.
• Stay Home for MY LIFE virtual youth fest, featuring inspirational speakers, uplifting entertainment, fun activities and more, taking place on the 4^th Thursday of each month, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. ET, for youth and young adults who have experience with mental health, substance use, juvenile justice and foster-care-related issues, as well as professionals and caregivers across the country.