Back to School, Back to Balance: Mental Wellness for Students, Parents, and Teachers

Back-to-school season is right around the corner, and you may be shopping for new backpacks and pencils, eager for a new year ahead. While this time of year is exciting, it can also bring stress and anxiety for students, parents, and teachers. Settling into a new routine of classes and expectations can cause significant stress that may be written off as jitters. While parents and teachers try to help children to adjust to a new schedule, they are often busy themselves, with their own set of responsibilities.

However, by recognizing that the beginning of the school year is a huge transition, mental health wellness can take the front seat. Understanding you and your child’s limits can help you take advantage of support systems to help the school year begin on a strong foot.

Understanding School Transition Stress

Change can make anyone feel uneasy. As humans, we are naturally resistant to change and prefer to maintain a similar schedule day to day. When a normal routine is suddenly changed, it can bring about stress. For students, back-to-school stress can include concerns about fitting in and making new friends, pressure about academic performance, worries about bullying, and the overall adjustment to a new routine or school.

For younger children, this can manifest in children becoming clingier whereas teenagers may be more withdrawn or irritable. Parents can also have their own transitionary stress including having to balance their work schedule with school transportation, homework, extracurriculars, and other familial responsibilities. Teachers feel pressure when preparing their classrooms, setting up curriculums, and supporting their students on top of their personal matters.

Recognizing the signs of stress and remembering that these feelings are normal is a great first step in learning how to address them in a healthier and more sustainable way.

Building Resilience in Educational Settings

Resilience is more than avoiding stress or knowing how to manage it, rather it is understanding how to adapt, recover, and overcome to move forward despite challenges.

For students, learning healthy coping strategies early in life sets them up for a lifetime of better mental health coping mechanism and encourages resilience. To do this, parents and teachers can help establish realistic expectations, practice problem-solving skills, build healthy friendships and family ties, encouraging more openness with expressing emotions, and by focusing on progress versus perfection. Additionally, laying a strong foundation with a consistent sleep schedule, regular physical activity, and well-rounded meals give structure to daily life.

For parents, it is important to not overlook their own mental well-being. Remember, you cannot give to others if you have an empty cup and caring for yourself is not selfish. To help reduce stress, consider creating family routines, including meal prepping and mapping out schedules, asking for help when needed, and maintaining your own social relationships with family and friends.

Teachers are often overlooked as they are instrumental in helping students and their emotional well-being. Teachers juggle a lot of responsibilities which can put strain on their mental well-being. To help promote better mental health, schools can encourage a healthier work-life balance, support collaboration between colleagues, provide access to employee assistance programs, and give teachers the support they need financially and emotionally. When teachers feel supported, not only do the teachers benefit, but classrooms also become healthier and more sustainable.

How to Create A Safe Learning Environment

The best way to support the mental well-being of students, parents, and teachers is when the classroom environment is inclusive. Schools can do this through encouraging kindness, addressing bullying quickly, providing resources and trusted adults students can reach out to, and support respectful communication. When students feel emotionally safe, they take a more active role in their learning and academics, encouraging creativity and curiosity.

Mental Health Resources in Schools

Schools at all levels are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health and that it is just as important as physical health. While mental health resources will vary from school to school, some resources that may be offered include:

• School counselors or psychologists

• Behavioral specialists

• Peer support groups

• Crisis intervention professionals

• Social workers

• Additional community mental health providers

It is important for teachers to have this information available to parents so they can become familiar with what is available at their child’s school. Students should be encouraged to reach out and use these resources, remembering that using these resources is a sign of strength and not weakness.

When Should A Professional Step In?

While these resources can be effective and helpful for most students, there are certain situations when additional support may be needed. Teachers and parents should be on the look out for emotional challenges that last for several weeks or if a child is withdrawn or expresses feelings of hopelessness or self-harm.

Connecting students with help early often leads to better outcomes. Remind students that there is no shame in asking for help!

The new school year is exciting but can also bring about stress and anxiety. A fresh beginning does not need to be pressure filled! Recognizing school stress and encouraging resilience can help students, parents, teachers, and support staff create a more balanced school experience. Reducing the stigma around mental health is important and every honest and open conversation around the topic helps to destigmatize it piece by piece.

As the new school year begins, remember that Hearts 4 Minds is here to provide the support and resources that you may need. Through our various initiatives including H4M Connect, National Reference Library, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, and Murals with Meaning around the Jacksonville, FL area, we aim to give the support and resources for everyone no matter their age. Here at Hearts 4 Minds, we wish you and your students the best of luck during this new academic year!

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, Text LIFE to 741741. Trained therapists are available 24/7 to assist. You are not alone!