Focus on Mental Health: School stress for kids
Updated: 5:07 PM EDT May 23, 2022
JESSICA: WE MAY BE EASING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH IS STILL BEING KEENLY FELT. ESPECIALLY BY OUR KIDS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL. HEREO TANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. ERICA LEE, A PSYCHOLOGIST AT BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. DR. LEE THANKS FOR BEING HERE. SHAYNA: LAST WEEK, MENTAL HEALTH STAFF AT WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS PETITIONED THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO DO MORE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES. SCHOOLS REALLY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES HERE, HOW CAN PARENTS HELP? >> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. SCHOOLS ABSOLUTELY ARE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN KIDS ARE HAVING A HARD TEIM WITH THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELING, IT’S A LOT HARDERO T LEARN. ONE THING PARENTS CAN DO IS PARTNER WITH THE SCHL. I ENCOURAGE PARENTSO T ADVOCATE. ADVOCATE FOR YOUR KIDS BY SHARING YOUR STORIES, LETTING THOSE IN LEADERSHIP KNOW WHAT IS IT THAT FAMILIES NEED NOW. REALLY JUST ACKNOWLEDGING HOW HARD TSHI ALL IS FOR EVERYONE AND THAT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME GOAL. EVERYONE IS TRYING TO HELP CHILDREN. SCHOOL STAFF HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO SO MUCH DURING THE PANDEC.MI THE MORE THEY CAN COLLABORATE THE BETTER. JESSICA: THE ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED THE MOST WERE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. HOW NCA WE CHECK WITH OUR KIDS AT HOME, AND WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT IT MIGHT BE MORE SERIS?OU >> DO JUST THAT. CHECK IN. ASK YOUR KIDS HOW THEY ARE DOING. WE ASK KIDS HOW THEY ARE DOING. REALLY MAKE SCEPA AND TIME TO LISTEN TO THEIR ANSWERS. LET KIDS KNOW THAT YOU SEE THAT THINGS ARE SO MUCH HARDER. YOU WANT TO REASSURE TMHE THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. MAY BE YOU AND YOUR CHILD TOGETHER CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. THAT CANE B AT SCHOOL AND MAYBE THAT’S THROUGH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OFFICE, OUTSIDE THERAPIST OR COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEM. IF YOUR CHILD SYMPTOMS GET WORSE, NOW YOU START SEEING TYHE CAN’T DOHE T THINGS THEY NORMALLY DO DURING THE DAY, THEY DON’T WANTOT DO TIRHE USUAL ACTIVITIES OR IF THEY TALK ABOUT HARMING THEMSELVES, YOU WANT TO SEE A PROSSFEIONAL. SHAYNA: WE KNOW SOME OF THAT ANXIETY STEMS FROM SOME KIDS FALLING BEHIND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. ASIDE FROM HELPING OUR KIDS CATCH UP,OW H CAN WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT AND ADDRESS THE EMOTIONS THAT GO WITH ?IT >> JUST ACKNOWLEDGING, THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES. MANY KSID AREN’T WHERE THEY WANT TO BE NOW. THAT’S UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN WHAT WE’VE ALL GONE THRGHOU IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. AT HOME, EVEN ON A DAILY BASIS, PARENTS CAN MODEL AND PRACTICE COPING PRACTICES. THESE BECOME A ROUTINE PART OF THE FAMILY DAILY LIFE. IF YOU FEELING WORRIED OR STRESSED YOU CAN SHOW HOW YOU RESPONIND A PROACTIVE AND HEALTHY WAY. YOU CAN TAKE A DEEP BREHAT AND TALK OUT LOUD. REALLY THE MORE KIDS PRACTICE THESE KINDS OF STRATEGIES FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS, BETTER. JESSICA: DR. LEE WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TE.IM AND TO OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS THAT
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Focus on Mental Health: School stress for kids
Updated: 5:07 PM EDT May 23, 2022
Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, discusses how parents can talk to their children about the stress of school and warning signs to watch out for.
Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, discusses how parents can talk to their children about the stress of school and warning signs to watch out for.
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