As parents, we spend so much time thinking (and worrying) about our kids’ health. We try our best to pack balanced lunches, remind them to go to bed at a decent hour, and schedule those annual checkups. But when it comes to their mental health, it can feel harder to know where to start — or even how to talk about it.
The truth is, our kids are facing more emotional challenges than ever. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 1 in 5 children and teens experience a mental health disorder each year. In Florida alone, more than 200,000 teens report having serious thoughts of suicide, while 325,000 experience a major depressive episode annually. Those numbers can feel overwhelming (and scary), but they’re also a powerful reminder: Our kids need us to make mental health part of everyday conversation, just like physical health.
READ: Are the Kids Really Alright? Daily Mental Health Check-Ins
That’s why we’re so grateful that Wolfson Children’s Hospital has launched a new program called Common Thread, created specifically for kids, teens, and families right here in North Florida and South Georgia.
What is Common Thread?
Common Thread is a mental health education and awareness initiative developed by behavioral health experts at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. It’s built to meet local families where they are — at school, at home, and in the community — and to reduce the stigma by making mental wellness as much a part of childhood as homework and soccer practice.
Instead of waiting until kids are in crisis, Common Thread focuses on prevention, awareness, and connection through three main “threads”:
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Awareness Thread: Reducing stigma, sharing real stories, and starting conversations at community events, on social media, and in schools.
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Education Thread: Offering free, age-appropriate resources to help parents, caregivers, and teachers understand what to look for, how to talk about feelings, and how to build healthy coping strategies from a young age.
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Community Resource Thread: Making it easier for families to find local support, including trusted mental health providers and services nearby.
As Jennifer Arevalo, behavioral health prevention coordinator at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, says, “The name Common Thread signifies that mental health impacts and connects every member of our community. By normalizing these types of challenges, Common Thread is spreading the message that our mental health is just as important as our physical health.”
Why This Matters for Families + How to Find Support
As moms, we know how quickly childhood moves. The toddler who needed a nightlight is suddenly a teen navigating social media, schoolwork, and serious emotions. Having a resource like Common Thread can help us feel less alone — and give us the tools to support our kids before struggles become crises.
You can explore free resources and guides (everything from improving emotional regulation to signs of depression in children and teens), sign up for the newsletter, and find local support at WolfsonChildrens.com/CommonThread.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital has long been a leader in pediatric behavioral health care, offering inpatient units, outpatient therapy, psychological testing, medication management, and even a 24/7 Kids & Teens Helpline. Common Thread builds on that work by focusing on proactive mental wellness — helping kids develop resilience, emotional awareness, and support systems early on.
