Mental Health Mondays - Back to School: Tips to Help Kids Mental Health

Mental Health Mondays - Back to School Tips to Help Kids Mental Health

Mental Health Mondays - Back to School Tips to Help Kids Mental Health On Monday, July 26, Caroline Brennan, Mental Health Support and Social Emotional Learning, Cully County Public School Supervisor and Sherry Wenzel, Lee County School District Mental Health Services Coordinator, gave tips for parents to address children's mental health. Children in Lee and Collier County are ready to return to school Aug. 10.

Isolation and epidemic toll on children's mental health

Isolation, changes in education, and the impact of epidemics have led to increased domestic violence, drug abuse, child abuse, and other problems. Students have experienced:

Anxiety

Depression

Self-harm

Lost or underdeveloped social skills

Financial misery

Food insecurity

Housing instability

Loss / grief

Educational retreat

Children's mental health concerns for returning to school

Isolation, changes in education, and the impact of epidemics have led to increased domestic violence, drug abuse, child abuse, and other problems. Students have experienced:

Establish a sleep / homework / exercise routine

Navigate school rules and routines

Anxiety and fear have increased

Navigate face-to-face with social interactions

Traumatic experience

Healthy vs. unhealthy coping strategies

Lack of access to treatment and medication

Know where, when and how to access help

Returning to school routines and rules can be a huge change after living in a virtual world with personal adjustment. Also, many mental health services for children and adults in need were affected by the epidemic. As a result, we know that when school starts, we will begin to meet these needs. But meeting that demand will be our challenge. We understand that many people have struggled at this time. You don't have to be mentally ill to not be mentally healthy.

It's like carrying a backpack for kids. In addition to the physical things they have to carry, imagine the children’s feelings, stress, responsibilities, expectations, experiences, and worries as physical objects at this time. They are bringing all that with them. For many students, this can be too heavy for them to carry. We need to keep in mind that many of our students will return to school with emotionally heavy backpacks. As a result, students are finding ways to build resilience and connectivity, as well as healthy coping strategies.

Signs of mental health or behavioral anxiety in children

Here's how to put one together for use with your mental health concerns. The key to these behaviors being out of the ordinary is: Are they endless? You know what’s common to your child. Also, it is important to coordinate our children’s behavior before the first day of school on August 10th.

Pre-school / early primary year

Behavior problems. Having a hard time following schedules and routines

Ways of hyperactivity outside of normal / normal child behavior

Sleep problems

Constant nightmares

Excessive fear, worry or crying. They can be affected by adult stress

Surround them

Extreme disobedience or aggression

Lots of mood tantrums all the time

The constant difficulty of being separated from parents, especially if they are virtual

All of the last school year

Grade school year (grades 4-8)

Excessive fear and anxiety. Access to social media and digital communication

And the news raises concerns

Extreme hyperactivity

Sudden decline in school performance

Loss of interest in a friend or favorite activity, withdrawal

Anorexia nervosa

Weight gain, and extra worries about physical appearance

Sudden change in sleep habits

Visible prolonged depression

Substance use or abuse

Seeing or hearing things that are not there

Twin and teen years

Destructive behavior such as damage to property or arson

Constantly threatening to flee or flee

Withdrawal from family and friends

Comments or writings that indicate a desire to harm oneself or others. This is a red

Pay attention to the flag. Contact mental health professionals to get help as well

As soon as possible

Risky behavior. What is overly risky behavior?

Substance use or abuse. Is it testing or constant?

Tips for supporting children's mental health

The key to communication with teachers, schools, doctors and our children.

Create a school-day routine early (homework and bedtime). We have to do it now, before school starts. Call the school and find out their lunch time, especially since they are accustomed to eating at different times.

Involved

Encourage open communication

Includes positive reinforcement. Tell them when they are doing well

Maintain an optimistic tone and positive attitude with children

Practice anticipation

Practice compassion. Our students are scared, anxious, anxious

Contact your child, your child's teacher and school. Listen and acknowledge their fears. Give them a strategy to deal with when they are scared.

Meet the teacher. Show them the classroom, if possible, where they will sit.

Read books or watch educational cartoons about things you might be concerned about for your child.

Set up school zones and expectations. Make sure you have a place that is cool for their homework and keep their backpack in one place. Probably choose the dress the night before.

Shop with your kids. Get excited about the new school year. If your child sees that you are excited, they will be excited.

Practice your new routine before the first day of school.

Suicide awareness and prevention

Why are we talking about suicide prevention in connection with going back to school? Because we have to. More and more children are dying on their own.

Collier and Lee County schools have seen a 44-60% increase in serious mental health crises, suicides and suicide attempts during this time.

The second leading cause of death among 10-34 year olds

10% of students think seriously about suicide

Concerns about increasing mental health after returning to school, this is a weak time

Relationships - Conflict, loss, intimidation, loss of support

Lack of ability to cope with emotion-increased stress

Achieving school-pressure, struggle to learn, lack of sense of belonging

The tank is empty

Overflowing mental health system

Silent isolation-suffering

Returning to normal may seem unusual to many

Addressing suicide prevention

Young people may have suicidal thoughts when they feel overwhelmed and helpless about the situation, disconnected from others and hopeless about their future. It is important to have that awareness.

How can we reduce family stress as much as possible?

Take time to connect with children in a meaningful way, one at a time and with fun activities

Model appropriate and healthy ways to deal with stress. Children learn more from our work than we say

Give your child space and a chance to talk

Listen, listen, listen. Spend more time listening than talking. Listen without judging the purpose of understanding.

Suicide warning sign

Look for extreme things. Some of these symptoms may be normal adolescent development. Sometimes they will transfer friends, preferences and replace things and this can be common. Raises a flag when they stop instead of replacing.

Withdrawal from friends and family

Speaking or writing about suicide or wanting to die

Farewell gestures given such things

Behavior change

Substance use

Decreased hygiene

Changes in sleep and eating habits

Negative mood, boredom, lack of joy in previously enjoyed activities

An expression of frustration, out of control or overwhelmed

Start a suicide prevention-conversation

Look for extreme things. Some of these symptoms may be normal adolescent development. Sometimes they will transfer friends, preferences and replace things and this can be common. Raises a flag when they stop instead of replacing.

Ask how your child is feeling. "I recently noticed you're ____. I'm worried. Are you okay?" Use open-ended questions that will answer even after "yes" or "no". Instead of using "you" as "you seem ..." you want to use the "I" statement. Non-protest. Using reflective statements such as "I'm listening to what you're saying" or "Is this correct?" Help the child understand.

Listen and give feedback and the opportunity to expand the conversation. "Tell me more about it."

Ask directly. "Are you thinking of killing yourself?" Some people think that asking questions can make them think of suicide. The reality is that once you ask questions and get help from a child, children are usually relieved.

Respond. Ask again if your gut tells you and you think they are not really opening. Sometimes you have to ask a few times before believing the child you really want to know the answer. If the answer is “yes”, stay calm and reassure your child that you will help them through it and seek professional help immediately.

Suicide Prevention - Response

Know your local mental health resources

Crisis Hotline (behind Collier County Student ID Badge)

Crisis receipt benefits

Mobile Crisis Response Unit

Supports school-based mental health

Security and coping strategies / planning

Apps to deal with and prevent suicide

Mental health resources for children

Mobile Crisis: 24 Hours (844-395-4432) (Lee and Collier County)

Emergency: 911

Collier County Receiving Facility, David Lawrence Center, Main Campus, 6075 Bath Lane, Naples, FL, 239-455-8500

Lee County Receiving Facility, Salascare, Colonial Campus, 10140 Dear Run Farms Road, Fort Myers, 239-275-4242

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifline.org

The School District of Lee County resource includes tips and information, as well as how to access your school's counselors and mental health professionals.

How to access your school-based mental health professionals, as well as tips and information on Collier County public school resources,

Phone apps

iCalm app

NotOk app

Children's minds are important assets

Questions and answers

Q: What are the early signs of depression in grade school children and how can parents help solve them?

A: Look for extreme things. Some of these symptoms may be normal adolescent development. Sometimes they will transfer friends, preferences and replace things and this can be common. Raises a flag when they stop instead of replacing.

Q: How can parents determine if a child's behavior is a stage in the actual symptoms of mental illness?

A: Look for the persuasive extreme. If you have concerns, you can take them for screening. Professionals can help distinguish between general development and mental illness. Collier County has great opportunities for free screening through HUGS through NAMI. If you contact your school counselor in Lee County, they will screen the child and let you know if the school can help or need additional resources for the problem.