Winning Health | Gold Coast Health Plan | Issue 2 | Fall 2020

Member Services: 1-888-301-1228/TTY 1-888-310-7347 3 With school closures and canceled events, many children and teens have missed out on everyday moments like hanging out with friends, playing sports and major events like prom and graduation. It’s normal for your child or teen to feel sad during these times. But how can you tell if they need a little extra emotional support? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests you look for these signs that they are struggling: ● Unusual changes in mood or behavior. Are they irritable? Are they talking to their friends less often than expected? ● Lack of interest in things they used to enjoy. ● Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much. ● Problems with memory or thinking. ● Lack of personal hygiene. How you can help Show support. One of the best things you can do to help a struggling child or teen is to let them know you’re there for them. Acknowledge their feelings of sadness and even anger. Be a role model. Try to stay positive yourself. Express optimism that things will get better. Talk honestly. Correct any misinformation about COVID-19 they may have in a calm, factual way. Stress the importance of social distancing to stop the spread of the virus. Encourage them to stay connected. Allow them to spend time video chatting with friends and loved ones. Let them play online games with friends. Urge them to go outside. Just getting outside can help. Consider taking family walks after dinner. Steer them toward activities they can do at home. You can find e-books online, video workouts, create a vlog of life during the pandemic or paint something. These things can instill a feeling of joy and accomplishment. Limit daily news intake. This can help everyone in the household feel calmer. Maintain or implement routines. Try to maintain basic routines as you normally would, such as getting ready for the day and bedtime schedules. Create a basic loose structure for the day and week. Lead poisoning screenings Lead poisoning often doesn’t have symptoms you can see. That’s why having your child tested is very important. Kids can be exposed to lead from things like peeling paint in old homes or aging water pipes, and it can harm a child’s growing brain. This can lead to learning and behavior problems or other health issues. A simple blood test can detect lead in kids. Lead screenings are a covered benefit of Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). Call the doctor for information on having your child tested at 1 and 2 years old or later if they need a catch-up test. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Is COVID-19 bringing your kids down? Mental health resources GCHP’s mental health provider: Beacon Health Options, 1-855-765-9702 ; TTY: 1-800-735-2929 BRITE: Building Resilience & Inclusion Through Engagement (ages 12 to 25) brite.mykajabi.com CalHOPE: 1-833-317-HOPE (4673) Interface Children and Family Resources (all ages): icfs.org/services/ mental-health Ventura County Crisis Line: 1-866-998-2243 THINK YOUR CHILD OR TEEN IS DEPRESSED? Talk with your child’s doctor if you have concerns about their mental health. The doctor can advise you on what steps to take next. FOR MORE INFORMATION, call GCHP’s Health Education Department at 1-805-437-5718 . If you use a TTY, call 1-888-310-7347 .