Last week, I spoke about how back-to-school time can really be a huge household expense on your pockets and headache. This week, I want to focus on the mental health component of back-to-school time. There is much relief for children at the end of the school year. They are tired of work, tests, some teachers, and a break from their bullies.Â
The Reality of School In Modern Society
As a parent, I watch my seventh grader deal with anxiety in a way that seems all too familiar. I am grateful for the wisdom that I have gained over the years to be able to help her navigate through her feelings. However, some parents do not know what to do or where to go. Some parents don’t realize that returning to school can be stressful for their children. When you think about a kid who has been struggling academically and being bullied by other kids, you realize that school is not all laughs and giggles. Â
For many kids, school is where they feel incredibly stressed and often shut off from the world. My kids started in Pasadena ISD this year, and for the first time in my 12 years of being a parent, I have felt some relief. I felt relieved because I was given every tool a parent should have to ensure their child is successful. I have access to all my children’s counselors, mentors, and even some of the staff’s personal cell phone numbers. I know exactly what my children are going to eat every day, and I know exactly where all their classrooms are.  Â
My seventh grader obviously is going through puberty, which is a weird time for her. She is now dealing with boys showing interest in her, which sometimes makes her a little uncomfortable and even a little self-conscious. My third grader has excelled for years, and the previous school district only focused on his behavior. Now, he is in a classroom with children who are high thinkers and high energy like himself. I am confident that I do not have to worry about getting phone calls throughout the school year. My first grader has found a teacher that loves to hug just as much as she loves to give hugs. Â
As parents, we want the best for our children and back to school to be as stressless as possible, especially when we have economic challenges at home. Nothing is worse than having a terrible start going back to school, and you are already dealing with difficulties at home and possibly even at work. At MyCHN, we can help families navigate stressful times because we have board-certified mental health counselors and psychiatrists (link to our BH page). We want families to know that we can provide a safe space through individual and group therapy for parents and their children.Â
What Can You Do?
There are a few things that I would like for you to take away from today’s message. Â
- Contact your child’s school counselor and let them know you are happy they are readily available to service your child. Let them know you would like to have an introductory meeting so that they can begin to get comfortable with your child. This is often overlooked because things get so busy when school starts back, but this helps with creating trust in a safe place for your child to have someone to go to at the school when their guardian or parent is not available. Â
- As the parent or guardian, you should secure your safe space. Ensure you have someone to talk to or who can relate to your situation as a parent. Â
- Learn about your children’s administrative staff, teachers, and principals; even if you cannot get involved in PTA or PTO, at least you know who is responsible for getting things done at the school. You will also know who to contact if you need to get in touch with anyone for any reason at all. Â
- During downtime with you and your child, make time to talk about your day at work and their day at school. Talk about the importance of expressing your feelings in a healthy way and learning how to problem-solve when challenges come their way. Â
- Look into free or low-cost after-school programs/activities to give you and your children a much-needed break from regular routines. This will also help you as the parent discover new things about your children while they are discovering new things about themselves. Â
- Be sure to talk to your children about where the nearest hospital, police station, and fire stations are. This may not seem that important, but many unfortunate things happen when kids go back to school, so it is good for them to know where their neighborhood safe zones are.Â
Knowledge is power. Let this be the time that, as parents and guardians, you educate yourself and your family on managing stress and your time. Returning to school can be a major adjustment for families, but there is help. Contact someone at MyCHN to discuss therapy options if necessary. No one should have to be left behind during the back-to-school season.Â
Tyrasia Starghill, MyCHN SDOH Manager
Tyrasia Starghill is the MyCHN Social Determinants of Health Program Manager. Her mission and goals align with MyCHN to help close health care equity gaps. Tyrasia is a two time graduate of Texas Southern University with a background in Social Work and Sociology. She has co-authored on African American female sisterhood research with the Sankofa Research Institute and has volunteered across a multitude of initiatives. Her past work includes case management, research, partnership engagement, and healthcare advocacy. Tyrasia is a wife, mother of 4, and puts family first in all that she does. Her hobbies include unlimited outdoor activities, shopping, watching crime shows, cooking, and spending quality with people she loves.
