Military children often hear how resilient and adaptable they are, but it is important to know what resources and information are available when your child is struggling to cope with stress, continuous changes, or heavy life topics associated with having military parents, such as deployments, PTSD, and grief.
It is a lot of pressure to always uphold an image of strength and endurance. The truth may be shocking. According to the National Military Family Association’s military teen experience survey results, the following factors below contributed to mental health concerns and even brought to light certain issues and gaps in support.
- 3 in 10 military teens struggled with low mental well-being
- 13 percent of survey respondents did not know how to access help
- 45 percent of survey respondents reported engaging in self-harm at least once
- 54 percent reported low food security
- 1 in 5 military teens reported working jobs to support their family’s finances
As more mental health advocacy continues to expand for military adults, the same attention should be given to military teens and children needing the same level of support. This support should be accessible with earlier intervention before military children and teens become under a significant, overwhelming emotional and physical state.
Advocacy and Support for Distressed Military Youth
Resilience is not the absence of struggle. It means self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to recover by acknowledging the struggle and knowing how to ask for help and resources. The goal is to replace maladaptive coping mechanisms that only offer short-term relief, avoidance, or harmful solutions.
Military youth do not have to “embrace the suck” to be resilient. The most common reasons why military youth encounter struggles are due to the frequent PCS moves, which lead to social instability and disruptions in both their personal and academic life. There are resources available for youth dealing with anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders.
Military youth do not need to be already in crisis to engage with these resources either. They serve as educational and skill-building opportunities, too, that help youth better identify and overcome challenges. And sometimes simply just having peer connection networks with other military youth who truly understand “the life” is therapeutically advantageous.
The organizations and government entities below offer healthy strategies, resources, and coaching.
- Military OneSource: Children, Youth & Teens
- Military and Family Life Counselor Locator
- U.S. Department of Defense Resources for Service Members and their Families
- Military Child Education Coalition
- Military Kids Connect
- Our Military Kids
- National Military Family Association: Bloom Program
- Mission Prep: The Pressure to Be Strong: Toxic Resilience in Military Youth
Military OneSource is usually the common place to start. It includes free, confidential counseling and self-help for teenagers as well as direct 24/7 live support for military families. It also provides active, trusted directories and guides for both the children and the parents.
For military youths facing the loss of loved ones and tragedy, the gold-star standard is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). This program exclusively supports the families of fallen heroes.
Other notable organizations are the Cohen Veterans Network, Give an Hour, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Comfort Zone Camp, Operation Parent, and Partnership to End Addiction.
Final Thoughts for Military Parents
As military parents, we step together, navigating the frequent disruptions, uncertainty, and unfortunately, losses. We do not have all the answers, but shared strength with our presence and understanding that no one has to figure it out alone. Parents who recognize signs of crisis or want to engage their children in resources early can map their needs to organizations that will support them best. Normalizing emotional safety, encouraging healthy coping skills, and having accessible resources are ways that military families can build resilience and support together.
Military youth thrive with connection and will see how adults model behaviors through stress. It is important to keep in mind that there is reassurance in knowing that there are resources and information available to help families develop social and emotional strength, but also address struggles…without the stigma.
