As students get ready to return to in-person learning this fall, teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors are preparing to offer support for returning and incoming students with worsening mental health issues.
While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly took a toll on the physical health of hundreds and thousands of people across the nation, it also led to an increase in mental health issues, especially among teenagers.
According to a study conducted by University of Michigan Health, nearly 50% of parents surveyed saw their teens develop new or worsening mental health conditions since the onset of the pandemic.
Parents and education professionals need to be aware that mental health issues will be more prevalent among teens than ever before this year and prepare for ways that teens may struggle this year.
Parents cannot expect students to roll with the punches and get back into the swing of their school routine after the past several months. Students have overcome physical illness, tried to navigate learning without in-person instruction, spent time away from friends and family members, attempted to fight off apathy without set schedules or routines, and grappled with a loss of control.
Naturally, returning to school will cause students to experience more stressors, which can further exacerbate their mental health issues.
Parents need to understand that returning to school may pose a challenge for their teens, and they should be prepared to handle increased mental health concerns during this upcoming school year.
Mental health issues
Here are a couple of mental health issues that are likely to arise in teenagers this year as they start school:
Anxiety
If these past few months have taught your teen anything, it is that life is unpredictable, and they can never fully be in control. Many teens had their schools shut down in early 2020 without any notice, and some have been fluctuating between in-person, online, and hybrid schooling ever since.
This has contributed to greater levels of anxiety among teens. Many worry about whether or not they will be able to stick to one method of instruction this year, especially with growing concerns over the Delta variant.
Others worry about whether or not they will be able to maintain their social relationships and spend time with their friends this year. With many schools implementing assigned lunch seating for contact tracing, canceling club meetings and other extracurricular activities, and encouraging teens to stay socially distanced, teens have fewer opportunities and options for staying social at school.
This has led many to feel anxious about whether or not they will be able to make friends or have any control over their social life when they return to school.
In addition to these concerns, many teens are also anxious about the safety of attending school in person. Chances are even if your teen hasn’t had COVID themselves, they know someone who has. Hearing about people who have died or been hospitalized due to COVID-19 may make some teens anxious to return to in-person classrooms full of students, especially at schools without mask mandates.
As students go back to school in the fall, it’s important for their parents to look out for common signs of anxiety: restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and poor sleeping habits.
Depression
COVID-19 has been hard on countless teens in the United States. The social isolation, disrupted learning, and physical harm caused by the pandemic has led to increased levels of depression and greater numbers of suicide attempts among teenagers,
Many teens were isolated from friends, family, and other loved ones during the pandemic, leading to sadness and loneliness.
On top of these feelings, inconsistent instructional methods from school have caused teens to feel shame and disappointment when comparing this past year’s school performance to that of previous years.
While navigating these stressors, students also have to cope with the negative feelings that have come from losing loved ones, missing out on important milestones, and not being able to stay in control of their lives.
As a result, parents should educate themselves on the signs of depression so they can help their teens if necessary. Some of the major signs include changes in sleeping and eating habits, poor concentration, low energy levels, high levels of sadness, and self-harm.
This upcoming school year, be intentional about providing additional support and care for your teen who may be experiencing mental health issues as a result of the pandemic.