Students facing more stress

Pandemic making for anxious return

WARREN -- Back-to-school time always is stressful, but as students begin another unorthodox school year, they also may face heightened anxiety or depression.

"I think there's a heightened anxiety for some kids who weren't around a lot of people for some time," said Lauren Thorp, director of recovery and youth programs at the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

She said students also may be dealing with grief as they miss out on more "normal" school experiences.

"They're experiencing some grief and loss for what they're anticipating this year," Thorp said.

She added her daughter, 11, a sixth-grader, is disappointed that her school is allowing only two people to sit at a table in the cafeteria -- she wanted to talk to all her friends during lunch.

Thorp's son, 5, is starting kindergarten in the Lakeview School District. She is fully supportive of his school's decision to require masks but disappointed he will not have a "normal" start to his schooling.

"I was just hoping it would be what all of us got to experience going into kindergarten," Thorp said.

Of course, she added, he doesn't know his schooling is different because he hasn't experienced anything else. Last year, in preschool, he also wore a mask.

ANXIETY

"When I think about kids returning to school this year, there's going to be some challenges that they face," Jamie Miller, clinical director at Alta Behavioral Health, said.

He said students who did virtual learning last year may be out of practice with their social skills or may be feeling like they've had a breakdown in their friendships with peers they haven't seen in a year or more.

Students also may be afraid of academic failure, he said.

Miller said it's important for parents and guardians to validate their children's concerns and remain calm, with relaxed body language.

"Parents can say things like, 'I know you're worried about being around so many people again. I know you're concerned about making friends or re-establishing friendships,'" Miller said.

At the same time, Miller suggested parents resist the urge to "rescue" children from their social anxiety.

"I think it's important to validate the anxiety, validate the feelings, but not allow the children to avoid the situation because of those fears," Miller said.

Miller did recommend making sure students have "protective factors" in their life, or activities they enjoy -- whether that be reading, playing sports, or doing a hobby. He said if students' normal activities are disrupted by the pandemic, they should find a new activity to enjoy.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Thorp recommended making the start of the school year special by marking the day. She said at home, her kids get to pick what is for dinner on the night before school starts.

"We try to make a big deal about going back to school," Thorp said.

Miller said if students are anxious about the uncertainties of the transition, especially this year, parents can teach them to focus on what they can control, including habits such as social distancing and hand washing.

For students who haven't started school yet, Miller recommended setting up a visit to the school building or a meeting with the teacher.

He said another practice that is good any year is establishing a back-to-school routine: setting a regular bedtime and a regular wake-up time, and making sure those times are early enough.

"Sometimes in the summertime, or if they've been doing virtual learning the year before, that scheduled -- that in-person routine -- has been lost," Miller said.

He said teachers can help students establish routines at school, too, so they know exactly what they need to do and what to expect. He added teachers can pursue training to recognize signs of a mental health concern. That type of training is offered through Alta Behavioral Health, he said.

"Well, teachers, they need to be aware, but they don't always receive a lot of training around mental health and students," Miller said.

Back to school doesn't just affect the students, Thorp said. Everyone in the family experiences the change in routine, and everyone can find it a little stressful. She recommended parents talk to other parents who are going through the same situation.

"Having peers is really, really helpful," she said.