Back to School

Mental Health Focus: Back to School – Let’s Talk Mental Health

When August rolls around, many of us start thinking about Back to School. For many students, this change brings along a lot of mental health concerns.  Students preparing for school may experience anxiety, social anxiety, depression, stress, fear of school, fear of rejection, and depression. It’s A LOT of change all at once for our youth. So how do we help them navigate this change and support their mental health? 

Let’s Talk Mental Health:

• • Talk to your kids about the upcoming changes.
    • Back to school means back to a routine and establishing that routine can help kids with the transition. Take the time to talk through the WHY behind these changes to help overcome your kid’s stress and fear.  Explain that the bedtime routine changes are to help them with more healthy sleep; that the new routine is to help them adjust back into time management and focused modes. 
  • Walk them through their schedule and their fears. 
    • When the school schedule arrives, talk and walk through it with your youth. Allow them to express their concerns or frustrations about unexpected schedule issues or that teacher that they don’t care for.  Ask questions to seek to understand their concerns and then offer comfort and help them brainstorm solutions. 
  • Take them to school events before school starts, such as an Open House or schedule pick-up days. 
    • While these before school events may not seem important to parents, they are great opportunities to help your youth overcome their fear of school, anxiety, and social anxiety.  These events offer the chance for the child to walk through their schedule on their time, to meet teachers in a lower-pressure environment, and maybe see some old or meet potential new friends.  Take the time to prioritize these connections. 
  • Encourage them to open up when they say they’re “fine”. 
    • “I’m fine.” “Nothings wrong.” “Ok” these are all pretty standard responses from youth when we ask “How are you doing?” They may not be ready to open up, or they may not be sure if you have the time to listen.  Dig a little deeper to get them to open up with phrases like “It seems like something is bothering you. I’m here to listen if you want to talk.” or “ I’ve been ‘fine’ before too. Let me know if you want to chat about anything.”
  • When they are ready to talk, make sure you are ready too.
    • Listen and really actively listen without interrupting or inserting your personal experiences.  Let them talk. 
    • Ask if they have thought about what would help them feel better and support/talk it out with them. 
    • Normalize mental health conversations.  Assure them the mental health concerns are common and there are resources and support available. 
    • Follow up and continue open conversations.  Continue to check in on how they are feeling and doing with any concerns they expressed or new ones. Continue to offer support and love. 

• Build a support network.

• • • Build a support network to surround your child with active listeners who will listen to, love, and help support your child.  Family members and friends, teachers and coaches, guidance counselors or advisors, etc. 

• Mental Health Days are OK.

• • As adults, many of us have personal or vacation days and sick leave that we can use when we need to.  Allow your child to take a mental health day to get a break from the anxiety and stress at school and to get some time to relax and reconnect with good mental health. 

For more tips on how to talk, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/how-to-talk/parents-and-caregivers

Remember that the most important school tool you can prepare your student with is prioritizing their mental health and the knowledge that they can talk about mental health with you for support and a positive start to the school year.