Back to School and Mental Health Concerns in Students

August means back-to-school for grade school students. The hustle and bustle of class schedules, school lunches, commutes, and school supplies can sometimes overlook one significant aspect of the back-to-school season; mental health challenges in students. The thought of going back to school can bring various feelings up like contempt, refusal, excitement, or fear. Some mental health challenges that students may go through are social anxiety, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. They can be significantly impactful on the student’s ability to learn and succeed in the classroom. Not only that, but these challenges also flow into the social aspect of the day-to-day school routine, leading to students feeling isolated and alone. According to SAMSA, "one in five students have a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder" that tends to go unseen or untreated.

Let’s take a look at some of the mental health concerns students are facing.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an anticipation of a future threat or excessive fear and worry that can disrupt daily life. Some signs of anxiety in students may be, trouble sleeping, avoiding social interactions at school with peers and adults, intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating, school refusal, and restlessness.

Depression

Depression is characterized by prolonged feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and irritability. Your child may find difficulty in finding pleasure in things, especially things they usually enjoy. Their appetite may change and they may oversleep or have trouble sleeping. Severe depression may lead to suicidal ideation. If your child is feeling suicidal or in danger of harming themselves, please call the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is characterized by attention deficit symptoms like difficulty focusing on tasks and paying attention (mostly present in females), or hyperactivity symptoms like impulsiveness and trouble sitting still (mostly present in males). ADHD is present in 8.4% of children in the United States. This disorder can lead children to developing anxiety and depression as well as they struggle to do well academically and face behavioral challenges that can be deemed as defiant behaviors by parents and school staff.  

Parents and educators can promote support for students during the back-to-school season and even throughout the school year. Here are some back-to-school support tips for mental health.

1.     Create an open space for communication

• As students face challenges, they may feel isolated in their circumstances and need an open ear to listen. Engage your student in talking about any feelings that the new school year may bring.

2.     Stick to a routine

• Consistency in their routine will help to maintain some normalcy and comfortability that can help mitigate school stressors. This can look like implementing time management strategies, setting time apart for homework , hobbies, and relaxation time.

3.     Self-care maintenance

• Prioritize rest and getting adequate sleep while also being mindful of oversleeping or insomnia (can be a sign of depression).

• Encouraging eating well balanced and nutritious meals.

• Making room for fun and family time.

4.     Bridging communication between teachers and parents

• If possible, maintaining contact between parents and teachers can help facilitate a partnership to best support student’s needs. If a teacher notices any signs of mental health concerns they collaborate with parents for the best plan of action.

• Parents can keep up with children’s development in the classroom and learn how to support their academic journey even in the home.

Source: SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration