An Introduction to Supporting Kids with Storytelling 

Have you ever finished reading a book and felt like it somehow understood exactly what you were going through? Or maybe you’ve watched your child connect deeply with a character who was facing similar challenges? If so, you’ve experienced the power of bibliotherapy—and you might not have even realized it. 

What Exactly Is Bibliotherapy? 

Bibliotherapy is the practice of using books and literature as a therapeutic tool to help people work through emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. Think of it as counseling through storytelling. When we read about characters navigating difficult situations, we often find comfort, insight, and new ways of understanding our own experiences. 

This approach can be especially powerful with children, who naturally connect with stories and characters in ways that can help them process complex emotions and situations they might struggle to articulate on their own. 

Why Books Work So Well for Kids 

Reading aloud to children offers countless benefits beyond just entertainment. It strengthens the parent-child bond, supports development, and nurtures a lifelong love of learning. But when we use books therapeutically, something even more magical happens. 

Children’s books used in bibliotherapy can: 

• Provide comfort during difficult times 

• Normalize experiences that might feel overwhelming or isolating 

• Validate feelings that children might not know how to express 

• Teach coping skills through character examples 

• Spark imagination and creative problem-solving 

• Build empathy by showing different perspectives 

• Develop social skills and emotional regulation 

Perhaps most importantly, books give parents a natural way to bring up challenging topics. Instead of having an awkward conversation out of nowhere, you can explore feelings and solutions alongside beloved characters. Children often find it easier to talk about what a character is experiencing before opening up about their own similar feelings. 

Perfect for Back-to-School Season 

With the school year upon us, bibliotherapy can be incredibly helpful for easing those back-to-school jitters. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or just feeling nervous about a new grade, the right book can make all the difference. 

Here are some tried-and-true favorites that tackle school-related anxiety: 

For the Nervous Newcomer: 

• “First Day Jitters” by Julie Danneberg 

• “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn 

• “The Night Before Kindergarten” by Natasha Wing 

For Building Confidence: 

• “The Koala Who Could” by Rachel Bright 

• “We’re All Wonders” by R.J. Palacio 

• “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson 

For Managing Big Feelings: 

• “The Color Monster” by Anna Llenas 

• “Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival 

• “The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!” by Mo Willems 

For Social Situations: 

• “Strictly No Elephants” by Lisa Mantchev 

• “Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney 

• “David Goes to School” by David Shannon 

It’s Not Just About Reading—It’s About Talking 

Here’s the key: bibliotherapy isn’t just about reading a book and calling it a day. The real magic happens in the conversations that follow. The story serves as a springboard for deeper discussions about feelings, experiences, and solutions. 

Try asking questions like: 

• “What do you think this character is feeling right now?” 

• “Have you ever felt the same way?” 

• “What would you do if you were in this situation?” 

• “What advice would you give this character?” 

• “How do you think the story will end?” 

These questions help children process their own experiences through the safe lens of storytelling. 

Getting Started with Bibliotherapy 

Ready to give bibliotherapy a try? Start by thinking about what your child might be dealing with—whether it’s anxiety, friendship issues, big life changes, or just everyday emotional ups and downs. Then explore books that address those topics. 

The wonderful thing about children’s literature today is its incredible diversity. You can find books that tackle everything from everyday worries to more serious challenges like grief, illness, or family changes. The key is choosing books that are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level. 

Where to Find the Right Books 

Not sure where to start? Your local library is a treasure trove of resources, and librarians are often incredibly knowledgeable about books for specific situations. You can also search online for curated lists—organizations like the Child Mind Institute, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Reach Out and Read, and Catalyst Kids offer excellent book recommendations organized by topic. 

The Bottom Line 

Bibliotherapy isn’t a replacement for professional help when it’s needed, but it’s a wonderful tool that every parent can use to support their child’s emotional well-being. Books have an incredible power to help us feel less alone, more understood, and better equipped to handle life’s challenges. 

So the next time you’re snuggled up for story time, remember: you’re not just reading a book—you’re opening up a world of healing, understanding, and connection. And that’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? 

References 

Kris, D. F. (2018). Why reading aloud to kids helps them thrive.

Lenkowsky, R. S. (1987). Bibliotherapy: A review and analysis of the literature. The Journal of Special Education, 21, 123-132. 

Rizza, M. (1997). A parent’s guide to helping children: Using bibliotherapy at home. The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. 

On July 29, 2025, Kimberly Elias, a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Partnership Executive at Magellan Health, led a 15-minute webinar titled Improve Your Self-Esteem. Whether you joined us live or are just catching up now, this recap highlights the key takeaways from her thoughtful discussion. 

How do you define self-esteem, and why is it so important in daily life?
Self-esteem is an individual’s overall evaluation of their own worth and value as a person. It’s a core part of who we are and often takes root in childhood. While it’s deeply ingrained, it’s not necessarily fixed and can shift depending on the life events and circumstances we experience. 

Having healthy self-esteem is important because it affects our overall quality of life. When our self-esteem is low, it can hold us back from pursuing goals, taking risks or fully enjoying life. It can create a constant inner dialogue of self-doubt that limits our potential. 

What’s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?  

Self-confidence is more about believing in your ability to accomplish a specific task or succeed in a particular situation. Self-esteem is your overall sense of self-worth. 

For example, someone might feel very confident in the kitchen. They can follow a recipe, prepare a healthy meal and serve it to their family with ease. But when they receive compliments for that meal, they might struggle to accept them. Deep down, they may not feel worthy of the praise or even worthy of enjoying the meal themselves. That’s low self-esteem, despite high confidence in a particular skill. 

The reverse is also true. A person can have healthy self-esteem but still lack confidence when trying something new or unfamiliar.  

What does low self-esteem look like in someone’s day-to-day life? 

Someone who’s struggling with low self-esteem will often experience persistent negative self-talk. This internal dialogue can be overly critical and, at times, excessive. People with low self-esteem often engage in people-pleasing, have a hard time trusting their own decisions and struggle to advocate for themselves. They tend to compare themselves to others constantly, which reinforces feelings of inadequacy. Setting healthy boundaries can also be a major challenge. 

What does healthy self-esteem look and feel like in action? 

Healthy self-esteem is rooted in an internal sense of worth, not external achievements or opinions. A person with healthy self-esteem doesn’t define themselves by what’s happening around them. 

Take the example of someone training for a marathon. Let’s say they didn’t hit the time they were aiming for. Instead of seeing that as a personal failure or a reflection of their worth, they’re still able to view themselves in a positive light. They recognize the effort they put in, celebrate the progress they made and maintain their sense of self-worth regardless of the outcome. 

People with healthy self-esteem believe they have value simply because they exist, not because they checked a box, earned an award or met someone else’s expectations. That belief empowers them to take on challenges, bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward without letting self-doubt take over. 

What are some simple tools and strategies someone can use to build stronger self-esteem? 

If you’re struggling with low self-esteem, there are several practical things you can try to start rebuilding that inner sense of value. 

Get Out of Your Head and Into the World
People with low self-esteem often get stuck in their heads, cycling through negative thoughts. One of the best antidotes to that mental chatter is action, especially helping others. Volunteering for a cause you care about, helping a neighbor or spending time at an animal shelter can help you feel purposeful and valued. And in giving your time or skills to someone else, you’re also showing yourself that you matter. 

Limit Social Media Intake
If you find yourself constantly scrolling and feeling worse about yourself afterward, it might be time for a digital detox. Try reducing the time you spend on social media or even taking a break altogether. Many people report a boost in self-worth and clarity once they’re no longer comparing themselves to the highlight reels of others. 

Use Affirmations with Action
Affirmations can be powerful, but only when backed by real behavior. Simply repeating “I am a healthy person” won’t move the needle unless you follow it up with choices that reinforce that belief. 

For example: 

• Affirmation: I am a healthy person. 

• Supporting behaviors: 
  • Go for a 20-minute walk daily
  • Replace soda with water
  • Meditate five days a week

Commit to reinforcing your affirmation with action for 30 days. You’ll start to notice meaningful changes not just in how you feel, but how you show up. 

Reflect Daily on What You Did Well
Take a few minutes each evening to write down two or three things you did well. This simple habit trains your brain to recognize your strengths and efforts, which boosts self-esteem over time. 

Remove Barriers That Undermine Your Self-Worth
Sometimes, improving self-esteem isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you stop doing. If there are toxic relationships, excessive drinking or unhealthy environments holding you back, begin taking steps to distance yourself from them.

Try Mental Check-Ins Throughout the Day
Here’s how it works: 

• Set an alarm to go off every 2–3 hours during your day. 

• When it rings, pause and ask yourself: 
  • What have I been thinking about?
  • What’s the quality of those thoughts? Are they helpful or hurtful?
  • How am I feeling emotionally and physically right now?
  • What do I need in this moment?

Maybe it’s a glass of water, a five-minute break in the sun or simply a deep breath. This practice builds self-awareness, helps reframe negative thoughts and encourages self-care in real time. 

Building self-esteem isn’t about becoming someone different, it’s about remembering who you are underneath the noise of self-doubt, comparison and outside expectations. It’s a lifelong process of learning to value yourself, advocate for your needs and show up with self-compassion, even on the hard days. 

If you missed the Magellan Minute, listen to the recording here. 

Early childhood education plays a crucial role (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2007) in shaping children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. The quality of classroom environments significantly influences these outcomes, particularly in mental health and behavioral wellbeing. While individual child interventions address individual-focused challenges, counselors, educators, and child development professionals can foster positive emotional and social experiences by improving “classroom climates.” Here are tips for creating a supportive, nurturing learning environment.  

Why Classroom Climate Matters: Especially for Military Children 

A child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development is deeply influenced by the quality of their classroom learning environment. Emotional security, structured routines, and positive teacher-child interactions significantly impact greater emotional regulation and resilience in children, improved peer relationships and cooperation, and strong self-management of behaviors and emotions. For children from military families (Park, 2011), classroom climate is particularly important as transitions, parental deployment, and relocation stress impact their emotional wellbeing.  

Addressing Systemic Challenges in Early Childhood Settings 

Supporting children’s behavioral and emotional wellbeing in development centers presents numerous challenges. Early childhood educators today face growing challenges (Lester & Flake, 2013), including limited resources, staff turnover, and increasing numbers of children who require additional support to thrive. Amid these demands, the focus often leans heavily toward academic preparedness, leaving less opportunity for professional development around fostering supportive emotional climates. 

Access to resources for mental health and emotional wellbeing is also limited, with in-person, professionally trained licensed mental health providers being scarce (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009), highlighting the need for proactive interventions within the classroom. These challenges are even more pronounced in military-connected early childhood settings, where frequent relocations and deployments can leave both parents and educators with limited knowledge of available community resources, further complicating efforts to support children’s social-emotional development. 

Aligning with Existing Frameworks for Greater Impact 

The principles of a “climate scale” can provide consistency in the classroom. By providing interventions modeled after the Preschool Mental Health Climate Scale tool, early childhood counselors and educators can provide support across staff and centers and give practical tools to ensure that teachers are better equipped to manage some of those challenges. Here are two scales that have been effective in our years of providing counseling to military families. 

The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) (Harms, Clifford, & Cryer, 2015) is a tool to assess and enhance classroom environments and practices. It provides a structured framework that allows educators to evaluate key aspects of the learning environment using consistent, research-based criteria. By working within a system that employs ECERS, a child development professional can align consultations with a language and set of expectations already familiar to staff. This shared reference point streamlines communication and facilitates more targeted, collaborative problem-solving. As a result, the counselor or teacher is better equipped to provide relevant and actionable support that resonates with children and families and reinforces existing developmental goals. 

Another framework to consider is the Preschool Mental Health Climate Scale (PSMHCS) (Borelli et al., 2019). The PSMHSC is composed of several sections that emphasize various classroom environmental factors. Each section enables a child development professional to recognize deficiencies and implement appropriate interventions. The PSMHCS details how classroom environments impact child behaviors. It will help identify common stressors, such as chaotic transitions or a lack of emotional support strategies and provide actionable strategies to improve classroom climate without major disruptions to routines. 

Applying the Preschool Mental Health Climate Scale   

Here are some common classroom challenges and interventions for teachers and counselors to address with military children, youth, and families.

1. Transitions Between Activities 

Challenge: Children become restless and disruptive during transitions.
Teachers: Model strategies for pre-transition warnings and use verbal and visual cues during classroom instruction.
Counselors: Ask reflective questions like, “How do you think you should respond when there’s a sudden shift in activities?” or “What small changes could make transitions smoother?” to promote self-reflection and ownership of improvement.

2. Directions & Rules 

Challenge: Inconsistent enforcement of rules or lack of clear expectations.
Teachers: Assist in developing visual rule charts, creating consistent rule systems, and integrating social stories to reinforce expectations.
Counselors: Model using positive reinforcement and consistent follow-through with consequences.

3. Behavior Challenges 

Challenge: Behavior escalation due to limited classroom monitoring.
Teachers: Demonstrate active supervision techniques, including effective classroom movement and awareness.
Counselors: Train on recognizing early signs of distress and strategies for proactive engagement. 

4. Emotional State 

Challenge: Emotional state negatively impacts the classroom climate.
Teachers: Facilitate self-reflective discussions about how personal stress, including military-related challenges, influences attention.
Counselors: Train on stress management tools, have individual support sessions, and provide referrals to appropriate resources as needed. 

5. Child Interactions 

Challenge: Limited engagement, minimal physical warmth, and lack of responsive dialogue from staff to children.
Teachers: Ask open-ended questions, have eye-level interactions, and use warm engagement strategies like high-fives and active listening.
Counselors: Demonstrate personalized connection-building techniques with children to promote relational trust and engagement.

6. Transitions Between Activities: Emotional Awareness & Problem-Solving 

Challenge: Children struggle to express emotions and rely on adults to resolve conflicts.
Teachers: Help label emotions and guide children through peer conflict using visual tools like emotion charts.
Counselors: Model emotional coaching strategies and demonstrate conflict resolution techniques in the classroom setting. 

7. Individualized & Developmentally Appropriate Lessons 

Challenge: Rigid, non-differentiated instruction for children with varying needs.
Teachers: Model strategies that promote flexibility, such as offering choices, using sensory-friendly materials, and adjusting activities to meet diverse needs.
Counselors: Reinforce self-regulation skills, offer coping strategies during challenging activities, and help children navigate transitions through individualized support.  

8. Child Interactions 

Challenge: Peer conflicts are frequent; socialization needs.
Teachers: Model strategies for promoting cooperative play and supporting positive social interactions among peers, offering real-time examples in classroom settings.
Counselors: Work with children on positive peer engagement, modeling turn-taking, social invitations, and conflict resolution skills. 

Transforming Environments & Supporting Futures 

By breaking down each component of the preschool mental health climate scale and integrating interventions into daily classroom activities, counselors, educators, and child development professionals can provide support and consultation and exemplify best practices for educators. Enhancing classroom climates can ultimately create healthier, more supportive learning environments to benefit both educators and students. These climate scale principles can be used as a support tool to positively transform early childhood learning environments, ensuring every child receives the emotional and social foundation for long-term success. 

References 

• Park, N. (2011). Military children and families: Strengths and challenges during peace and war. American Psychologist, 66(1), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021249 

• National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2007). The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/the-science-of-early-childhood-development-closing-the-gap-between-what-we-know-and-what-we-do/

• National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. (2009). Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people: Progress and possibilities. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12480 

• Lester, P., & Flake, E. (2013). How wartime military service affects children and families. The Future of Children, 23(2), 121–141. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2013.0015 

• Domitrovich, C. E., Cortes, R. C., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). Improving young children’s social and emotional competence: A randomized trial of the Preschool PATHS curriculum. Journal of Primary Prevention, 30(3-4), 329–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-009-0171-0 

• Bartlett, J. D., Smith, S., & Bringewatt, E. (2017). Helping young children who have experienced trauma: Policies and strategies for early care and education. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/trauma-early-care-education 

• Harms, T., Clifford, R. M., & Cryer, D. (2015). Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Third Edition (ECERS-3). Teachers College Press.
• Borelli, J. L., Callaghan, C. L., Smiley, A. J., & Westervelt, H. (2019). Development and Validation of the Preschool Mental Health Climate Scale (PMHCS). Early Education and Development, 30(3), 318–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2018.1546095 

Further Reading 

For those supporting young children’s social-emotional development and mental health, several established tools and resources can provide valuable guidance. The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) (Harms, Clifford, & Cryer, 2015) and the Preschool Mental Health Climate Scale (PMHCS) offer frameworks for assessing classroom environments and the emotional climate within early learning settings. Additionally, resources such as the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program, the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), and ZERO TO THREE provide practical strategies, evidence-based practices, and training materials to strengthen resilience, promote positive social-emotional growth, and address the needs of young children, particularly in dynamic environments like military-connected early childhood programs. 

Additional Recommended Resources for Counselors Working in Early Childhood Settings 

• Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program: A strength-based assessment and planning system designed to promote resilience in children aged 4 weeks to 6 years. https://centerforresilientchildren.org  

• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL):  Resources and training materials focused on promoting social-emotional development and school readiness in young children. http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu  

• National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI): Support for the implementation of the Pyramid Model framework to promote young children’s social-emotional competence and address challenging behavior.  https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/   

• ZERO TO THREE:  An organization dedicated to ensuring that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, with a wealth of mental health, trauma-informed care, and early development resources. https://www.zerotothree.org/ 

About the Author 

Mary Sol Weston, LCPC-S, is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a specialization in family life counseling, trauma-informed care, and early childhood mental health. Coming from four generations of active-duty Service members, country and community is woven into her identity. She honors the legacy of her father’s distinguished 33-year military career and takes pride in her son’s current service in the armed forces.

Good nutrition has a major impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Certain foods and nutrients help your brain make chemicals that can improve your mood, attention and focus, while less healthy foods sap your energy.

• Foods that provide a quick energy boost but can leave you with low energy and mood later on include flour-based items such as breads, crackers and baked goods, plus sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks.
• A meal that effectively fuels your mood is one that combines complex carbohydrates with lean proteins and colorful produce. For example, complex carbohydrates from whole foods (like sweet potatoes, rolled oats, beans and quinoa) can boost the feel-good chemical serotonin in your brain.
• Protein consumption (from foods like fish, beef, chicken, turkey, tofu, beans, eggs and unsweetened yogurt) has been linked to higher levels of dopamine and norepinephrine—brain chemicals that impact your mood, motivation and concentration.
• Fruits and vegetables are high in nourishing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and have also been shown to boost happiness.

Working on wellbeing: Working on emotional wellbeing

• Being emotionally well is key to your overall wellbeing. People with high emotional wellbeing know and apply their natural strengths, are resilient when faced with challenges, and regularly utilize positive self-talk.
• Support your emotional health by learning things outside of your comfort zone, connecting supportively with others, being physically active, offering forgiveness, embracing your successes and being kind to yourself and others.

Every employer wants their workforce to be fully engaged and productive. Yet a growing challenge undermines this goal: presenteeism, where employees are physically present but mentally distracted by personal responsibilities that drain their focus and energy.

The numbers reveal the scope of this challenge. Research from Harvard Business Review shows employees spend 41% of their time on discretionary activities that add little value and could be delegated to others. Meanwhile, the juggling act of modern life—coordinating childcare, managing elderly parent care, and handling household responsibilities while working from home—creates a perfect storm of workplace distraction.

The impact on working family caregivers is particularly striking. More than 23% report either missing work or struggling with reduced performance due to caregiving responsibilities. For those affected, caregiving can reduce work productivity by approximately one-third, translating to an estimated $5,600 per employee when annualized across all employed caregivers. This productivity loss primarily stems from the stress and fatigue that employees bring into their workday.

A Strategic Solution Emerges

Forward-thinking employers are addressing this challenge head-on with practical support systems. Magellan Healthcare’s EAP with Care Membership offers employees unlimited access to the world’s largest network of service providers, streamlining the process of finding and booking both short-term and long-term care for their loved ones.

This employer-paid benefit eliminates the hours employees typically spend searching for reliable caregiving support and household assistance. Instead of scrolling through endless online listings or making countless phone calls during work hours, employees can quickly access vetted professionals through a comprehensive platform.

The Care Membership service spans a full spectrum of family needs, including childcare providers, senior and disability caregivers, respite care, babysitters, housekeepers, errand services, tutors, and pet care professionals—all accessible via a website and mobile app.

Streamlined Process, Verified Results

The platform prioritizes both convenience and safety. Employees can search for qualified providers by location and filter results based on hourly rates, availability, experience levels, and specific qualifications. Every caregiver undergoes background screening before joining the platform, with additional background checks and safety resources available for employees who want extra assurance. There are referral specialists to help employees find the best candidates for their specific needs. Once employees find the right provider, they can easily arrange services and payment through the platform.

The Business Case for Care Support

The Care Membership program demonstrates an employer’s genuine commitment to work-life balance, moving beyond surface-level benefits to address real challenges employees face daily.

With this support system in place, stress-related absenteeism decreases when employees know their family responsibilities are professionally managed. Presenteeism diminishes as mental bandwidth previously consumed by caregiving coordination becomes available for work tasks.

Employee retention improves when workers feel truly supported in managing their complex lives.

When employees trust that their loved ones are in capable hands, they can fully invest their mental energy in their professional responsibilities. This creates a positive cycle where reduced stress leads to improved performance, reinforcing the value of the support system.

Investing in Care Membership represents more than just an employee benefit—it is a strategic decision that strengthens the entire workforce’s capacity to perform at its best. In today’s competitive talent market, this kind of meaningful support can differentiate employers who genuinely understand the realities of modern working life.

Learn more about Care Membership through Magellan’s EAP here.

Source:

• Fakeye, Samuel, Drabo, Bandeen-Roche and Wolff. (2022). “Caregiving-Related Work Productivity Loss among Employed Family and other Unpaid Caregivers of Older Adults.”

Mind Your Mental Health

During the summer, your mental health can be affected by longer days, oppressive heat and changes in schedules. Here are some ways to keep mentally healthier during those lazy-hazy-crazy days.

• Stay active by going for walks or hikes, or doing yoga outdoors, during the cooler morning hours.
• Make sure you always stay hydrated.
• Sit in the shade and express yourself by writing in a journal. Or read a stimulating book.
• Regularly meet with friends and/or family (in cool locations!) to share insights on what’s going on your life.
• If you’re struggling with an issue such as depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, substance abuse or relationship problems, reach out to your program for professional assistance.
• Check in on your vulnerable neighbors during heat waves.
• If you’re traveling, make sure to refill your prescriptions in advance.

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call your program for confidential mental health resources.

Working on Wellbeing: Working on Career Wellbeing

• Career wellbeing is about finding meaning in the work you do, whether it’s paid or volunteer. It’s easier to feel fulfilled when your tasks align with your strengths and interests.
• Celebrate your successes and the successes of your team. When you find joy in your work, you’ll not only perform better, but you’ll also help boost morale and contribute to a positive, productive work environment.

From childhood to older adulthood, our mental health needs evolve. Understanding and prioritizing what matters most at each stage helps us manage stress, build resilience, maintain meaningful relationships and thrive in daily life.

Children (0-12): Emotional security and healthy attachments

A solid foundation in emotional security helps children build resilience and cope with stress. Secure relationships with caregivers provide stability, trust and emotional regulation. To support this, create a nurturing environment, encourage emotional expression and maintain predictable routines.

Adolescents and young adults (13-25): Identity, social support and coping skills

This is a time of self-discovery, peer influence and independence. It’s also a time of stress as adolescents gain more responsibility and begin to experience greater social and academic pressure. Strong social connections and healthy coping skills can help them manage stress and life transitions. Foster open conversations, encourage self-expression through hobbies and interests, and teach stress management techniques like mindfulness and exercise.

Adults (26-64): Work-life balance and stress management

Careers, relationships and family life can lead to burnout if not properly managed. Set boundaries, maintain supportive relationships, and engage in self-care activities like hobbies and physical activity to promote mental wellbeing.

Older Adults (65+): Social connection and cognitive engagement

Major life changes, like retirement, health issues or loss can lead to increased isolation and depression. Staying socially and mentally engaged supports overall wellbeing and cognitive health. Make time for social interactions and lifelong learning and finding purpose through hobbies or volunteer work.

As we mature and our lives change, taking care of our mental health is key to living a fulfilling life at every stage.

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/Mental-Health-Month for more information and helpful resources.

When employees decide to seek help for life’s challenges through their Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”), accessibility and convenience become crucial factors in whether they follow through. Traditional barriers—including scheduling difficulties, travel constraints and privacy concerns—often prevent people from accessing the support they need.

Magellan Healthcare’s EAP provides five different ways to access counseling: in-person, video, phone, text messaging and live chat.

This multi-modal strategy recognizes people with different comfort levels, scheduling constraints, geographic limitations and communication preferences when seeking help. By meeting individuals where they are—whether they prefer the personal connection of face-to-face sessions, the convenience of video calls or the immediate back-and-forth of live chat—organizations help remove critical barriers to entry for EAP services.

This flexibility increases initial engagement and improves ongoing participation, as individuals can seamlessly transition between modalities as their needs evolve or circumstances change. The result is an inclusive, accessible mental health support ecosystem that serves employees and their families more effectively, ultimately leading to better individual outcomes and greater value for the organization.

Offering multiple counseling modalities delivers several key business benefits:

• Increased utilization rates: When employees can access services on their terms, program participation rises by an average of 31% (Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2023)
• Reduced barriers to entry: 67% of employees who would not pursue traditional therapy report a willingness to use digital mental health services (Harvard Business Review, 2024).
• Enhanced productivity: Access to appropriate mental health support can recover up to 27 productive workdays per employee annually (American Psychological Association, 2024)

For organizations EAP support is not just a benefit—it is a strategic investment with measurable returns. By offering multiple pathways to mental wellness, employers demonstrate commitment to their workforce while protecting their bottom line.

Magellan Healthcare focuses on connecting employees and their families to services that are accessible, responsive and holistic—and helping businesses build the healthy, engaged workforce they need to thrive.

Ready to learn how comprehensive mental health support can benefit your organization? Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/Employers.