Supporting your child’s mental health as they go back to school

Supporting your child’s mental health as they go back to school

METEOROLOGIST SARA FLYNN. >> STUDENTS GET READY TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FEELING GOOD AND READY TO GO AND SOME FAMILIES MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH THOSE DROP-OFF GOODBYE. SO JOINING US TODAY IS DR DENNIS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AT PRIORITY HEALTH. SHE’S HERE TO OFFER ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO EASE THIS TRANSITION AND SUPPORT CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH COULD HAVE YOU HERE WITH SO WHAT ARE SOME EARLY SIGNS OF SEPARATION ANXIETY IN CHILDREN. HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S MORE THAN JUST THOSE TYPICAL BACK TO SCHOOL >> DEPENDING UPON THE CHILD’S AGE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE CHILDREN, COMPLAIN OF THINGS LIKE STOMACH ACHES AND HEADACHES AND THEY OFTEN GET VERY CLEAN GUY. IF THESE BEHAVIORS LAST FOR MORE THAN SEVERAL DAYS TO SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN IT’S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE’S SOMETHING WAS SERIOUS GOING ON. >> SO WHAT ARE SOME PROACTIVE STEPS PARENTS CAN TAKE LEADING UP TO THE SCHOOL YEAR TO KIND EASE THAT TRANSITION AND REDUCE ANXIETY QUICK EASY CHANGES. FIRST OFF, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD’S BE IT WILL BE A TIME BIT 19 IS BACK TO SCHOOL OFTENTIMES THE SLEEP SCHEDULE CHANGES DURING THE SUMMER STAND UP LATER IN IN IN SLEEPING, IN LATER. GET THAT SCHEDULED OUT. BUT ALSO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT’S TO BE EXPECTED. HEY, WE’RE STARTING BACK SCHOOL REAL SOON. ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GO YOUR TEACHERS NEW FRIENDS HAVE THOSE SMALL DISCUSSIONS EARLY YET. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PARENTS CAN BE A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND NERVOUS ABOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO WRITE. CAN THEY PASS FEELINGS ON TO THEIR KIDS. >> ABSOLUTELY. SOMETIMES CHILDREN LEARN BY WHAT THEY SEE. IF THEY SEE YOU NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS IN, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH THINGS THEY CAN PICK UP ON THOSE A■S WELL. BUT HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW YOU COPE AND HOW WANT TO MAKE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR CHILD AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT’S OK TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY’RE FEELING. >> WHAT ARE SOME GOOD THINGS. YOU KNOW, PARENTS CAN SAY OF THEIR CHILD IS FEELING NERVOUS SAY THINGS LIKE HOW CAN I HELP LET ME KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT DOES WHAT YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT WORRY YOU ALL THE TIME. LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP YOU JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY’RE FEELING AND WHAT THEY’RE THINKING. WHAT ROLE DO. TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF PLANE SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY, TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF PLAY A HUGE ROLE BECAUSE THEY’RE THE ONES WHO CAN IDENTIFY WITH SOMEONE’S BEHAVIOR IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT NORMALLY IS THEY CAN IDENTIFY WHEN CHILDREN ARE HAPPY LIKE RYAN SPILLS OR WHEN THEY’RE COMPLAINING OF THINGS LIKE STOMACH ACHES OR HEADACHES THAT THEY’RE DOING THINGS FOR OFTEN OR THEY’RE NOT COMPLETING THEIR ASSIGNMENTS WHEN THERE’S SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH THEIR FUNCTIONING IN SCHOOL. THE TEACHERS SUPPORT STAFF ARE USUALLY THE FIRST ONES TO PICK UP ON THAT. YEAH. AND MANY CASES. YOU KNOW, IT GETS BETTER AS CHILD GETS OLDER, RIGHT. BUT WHAT ABOUT WITH SEPARATION PROBLEMS, PERSIST WHEN THEY PURSES. YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEEK OUT ATTENTION FROM YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS. OFTENTIMES YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. THE FIRST PERSON THAT YOU CAN SPEAK GUARDS TO REFERRALS FOR THINGS LIKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ANY TIPS FOR, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS GOING TO NEW SCHOOL YEAR SCHOOLS LIKE FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL. YES. THE BEST ADVICE FOR FOR CHILDREN TRANSITIONING FROM ONCE PLACE TO ANOTHER, JUST TO SET THE EXPECTATION. HEY, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT’S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN YOU NEW PEOPLE, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT UP FRONT. USUALLY EASES THE TENSION. HOPEFULLY THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN. BUT IF YOUR CHILD COMES HOME FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN THERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, MOM, DAD, GRANDPA GRANDMA, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW. >> AND FEELING A LITTLE OVERWHELMED. I DON’T THINK I LIKE THIS. WHAT SHOULD PARENTS SAY HELP SITUATION. HE WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH A NEW SITUATION. IT’S OKAY TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL IS SO IMPORTANT. HOW CAN WE WORK THROUGH THIS. LET THEM KNOW THAT SCHOOL IS AN EXPECTATION AND WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE. SO THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS WHAT’S MAKING THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. >> DOCTOR, DENNIS. ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE. ABSOLUTELY IF YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE OR YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM ISSUES WITH ANXIETY, YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM THAT NUMBERS ON THE BACK MEMBER CARS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LANDING PAGE PRIORITY HEALTH DOT COM FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND FOR THE SMALL KIDS. WE DO HAVE A BOOK. THAT’S LIKE HOT FRIED IS FIREWORKS. THIS HELPS WITH ANXIETY. SO THIS IS PERFECT. IT SHOWS THEM EASY WAYS TO

For many people, the thought of another school year can bring a mix of emotions. Each year is filled with its sets of challenges as teachers, parents and students alike attempt to navigate new beginnings. (August 12, 2025)