What Parents Need to Know About
Back to School and Mental Health
Starting a
new school year is an exciting time but it can also be a stressful one. Preparing
for a new grade level, new teacher, new classroom, and making new friends can
cause feelings of anxiety and fear. As we begin the back-to-school season, our
friends at the Partnership to End Addiction (drugfree.org) and Psych Hub
(psychhub.com) remind us that it is important to pay attention to our children’s
mental health as well as physical health.
Times of transition can be tricky for kids to navigate and cyberbullying,
suicide, and self-harm could become a cause of concern as the school year begins,
which often is connected to substance abuse.
Understand
that transitional times are difficult at any age – watch for signs of distress in youth
as they transition to a new grade, sport, or group of friends. You can help
them manage stress by monitoring mood changes, sleep patterns, and watching for
signs of isolation. Encourage healthy coping mechanisms such as maintaining a
balance schedule that includes exercise, nutritious meals, and plenty of sleep,
connecting to positive social supports, and modeling healthy ways to manage
stress.
Know the
signs of common mental health conditions – the most common mental health conditions in youth are
anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and
depression. General symptoms to be aware of include poor school performance or
changes in school performance, persistent boredom, frequent physical ailments
such as headaches, stomachaches, sleep issues, signs of regression like bed
wetting, and even aggressive behaviors. Some great info about how to recognize
common symptoms around anxiety, depression, and more can be found in Mental
Health America’s Back-to-School Toolkit at https://www.mhanational.org/back-school
Learn how
to start a conversation around mental health – understanding how to talk about mental health, just
like talking about substance abuse, is one of the most important things you
will do as a parent. Teens report that their parents are still the most
important influence on their lives. When beginning conversations, it is
important to speak from a place of empathy and express care. Use general
language such as, “I am worried about you”, “I am here for you”, or “Can we
talk about what is going on with you?” You want your child to know you are
there for them every step of the way. Gentle approaches build trust with your
child so they are more willing to open up about sensitive issues.
Understanding
bullying and how you can help – bullying can take many forms and involve a lot of
different actions. It is important to know that bullying behaviors can range from
inappropriate jokes and teasing all the way up to physical violence. Youth may
feel shame if they are being bullied and not always willing to share what is
going on. This is why it’s more important than ever to keep the lines of
communication open with your child. Discuss a proactive plan of who will do
what to resolve the situation based on the severity of the bullying. Do not
promise to keep bullying a secret though – your child’s safety is at risk and
adult intervention including parent and teacher is almost always needed.
Bullying can have long-term psychological and psycho-social impact on both the
offender and the victim, so early intervention is important.
Be sure to check in
and talk with your kids on a regular basis and best wishes for a safe, healthy,
fun, and successful new school year!
