The month of August signals transition for a lot of youth across the United States. It marks the end of summer as nearly everyone is preparing to go back to school and get back into their normal routine of life.  

Summer offers students, caregivers, and school staff with a certain amount of freedom. The school year, however, forces more of a rigid schedule as there are school times, dress codes, and various policies that must be followed.

While we are relatively used to this yearly transition from the freedom of summer break to structured school schedules, we do not often talk about how it can still impact one’s mental health. We must remember to humanize our students and all they are experiencing outside of the classroom, while still transitioning back to school. 

Due to the stigma that surrounds these conversations, there are many people who invalidate youth when they express struggling with their mental health. 

Frequent responses to shared experiences include: 

“You’re too young to be depressed.” 

“You don’t have any bills - you can’t be stressed out.” 

“I mean you’re just a kid - what could be so bad?” 

This dismissal response to experiences and emotions only wedges a further divide between current students and other generations. There also often exists a fear of talking about mental health among youth because the topic is heavy or we are afraid it will lead to unwanted feelings.

However, statistics show us differently. A recent survey of school aged youth revealed the following: 

1 in 5 students seriously consider suicide. 

1 in 10 students attempt suicide. 

This shows us that students are already having the conversations themselves, and likely amongst each other. If adults, teachers, administrators, and community members are not engaging with and leading these conversations, we are already behind. 

To be proactive about students’ mental health, we have gathered a few suggestions for school staff, caregivers and students to keep in mind during this back to school season. By practicing these small things each day, it can provide both a better experience during this transitional time, while also setting up good habits for the entire school year. 

Tips for School Staff:

• Establish a safe space for students early in the school year

  • By establishing yourself/classroom/office space as a safe space, students can feel comfortable asking questions about school or sharing problems they may be facing. 

• Plan for casual check-ins with students

  • Whether done verbally or in a written format, setting aside dedicated time to check in with students reminds you and them to prioritize their mental wellbeing.

• Get educated on mental health

  • Understand the statistics (both local and national) on student mental health for the population you are engaged with, so that you can better know what to monitor. Also, get educated on mental health for professionals working in school settings so that you can properly understand how to care for yourself. Our e-learning is a great flexible and on-demand mental health education option for those wanting to learn more.   

Tips for Caregivers:

• Plan for extra time in schedule for stressful moments

  • Planning ahead for extra time to navigate difficult moments will help give students time to regulate before school starts or settling in for the night.

• Get educated on mental health

  • Understand the warning signs for mental health concerns for all children in your care so that you know what to look out for in behavior. Also, get educated on mental health for caregivers with children in school so that you may learn how to best support yourself in this phase of life. Our e-learning is a great flexible and on-demand mental health education option for those wanting to learn more.   

• Be intentional in asking questions 

  • Instead of asking an open ended question such as “how was your day.” try more direct questions that encourage reflection. Examples include:

What was the best part about your day? What was the worst part of your day? What is one thing you hope changes for tomorrow? 

Tips for Students:

• Take some time during your routine after school to decompress  

  • Before jumping into homework or extracurricular activities, take some time to process all the things that happened during your school day. Try journaling if you want a space to get everything organized! 

• Share any concerns or problems you're facing with a trusted adult 

  • There are people who genuinely care about your experiences. Identify who that is for you and speak up about anything you may be feeling. 

• Make time for personal hobbies aside from school work

  • You are a whole human outside of school. Make time to get to know yourself and explore your hobbies and interests! 

With recent statistics suggesting that only 43% of Gen Z (individuals between ages 9-24 years old) report having good or excellent mental health, we have to actively work to be involved in the mental health care of our students. 

Small additions to our daily routines can help us decrease stigma and normalize talking about our mental health. Our students need to know that it’s ok not to be ok, there are people who care and resources available. 

If you attend or are in any way affiliated with an Illinois school (grades 7 - 12) and would like a free mental health education, please visit this page on our website. 

If you are looking for general mental health resources, please visit this page on our website.