Shari,
I'm sorry your family is going through this, but the only way to build self esteem is to face difficult situations and come through them.
Still, I think part of the victory is learning how not to 'go lemming' and become incompasitated, just because your peers do.

As Kipling's poem IF says -

That's why I'm so interested in slow breathing lately. Your DS might find this interesting.
Love and More Love
Grinity


Coaching available, at SchoolSuccessSolutions.com