Despite the excitement, back-to-school time can be an extremely anxious time for kids.
Among the exciting preparations are shopping for new sneakers and a new uniform, labelling stationary and books, and getting ready to see friends again.
But the thought of leaving mom and dad and going back to the classroom can also cause a lot of stress for some kids.
Dr. Howard Y. Liu, an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist and chair of psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, serves as chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Communications, and says there are five easy mental health tips for back-to-school that he encourages all parents to learn.
"One model that I learned when I was in fellowship that I think really applies to parenting is: 'Never worry alone'. I think that's a great mantra for parents and for the entire household.
"Remember, not all kids - and especially not all teens - are going to go to their parents, but they're worried.
"Just make sure that (your child knows) that they don't need to worry alone, that you're there for them. That is one key piece."
5 ways to help your kids’ back-to-school mental health
- Spend quality time together on a regular basis: Liu says spending one-on-one time with your child before or after school is a great way to foster essential conversations about their mental and emotional wellbeing.
- Talk about bullying: "The interesting thing I have found as a child psychiatrist is that many kids don't talk about bullying unless you directly ask them," Liu says. "So you do have to talk to them about it."
- Get back into a reliable routine early: According to a 2022 study published in the journal The Lancet, children who got an insufficient amount of sleep experienced more mental health and behaviour challenges than their peers who received enough sleep. Less sleep was also found to be linked to "stress, depression, anxiety and aggressive behavior."
- Have family mealtime every day: Studies have shown that regular family meals are associated with lower rates of depression, and anxiety.
- Quality exercise: Exercise is a "really important" tool for managing anxiety and depression, especially if it's "mild to moderate."
Signs of mental health distress to look out for
There are a few signs of mental health distress in a child that parents can look for, especially if they know that back-to-school season is specifically anxiety-inducing for their child, says Liu.
Because anxiety, stress and depression symptoms are often physical - especially in young children who do not have the vocabulary to voice their thoughts and internal feelings - here are some other physical signs to look for, according to Liu:
- Stomach aches
- Headaches
- Nausea/vomiting
- Disturbed sleep
- Diarrhea.
