Back to school & mental health: Dayton Children's provides tips

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) -- As students across the Miami Valley begin back to school, the National Center for Education Statistics says 76% of public schools in the U.S. reported increased concerns around students showing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma last school year.

Dayton 24/7 Now’s Allison Walker spoke with Dr. Mary Beth DeWitt, the Chief of Psychology at Dayton Children’s Hospital, about how parents can help kids cope with the back-to-school transition.

Dr. DeWitt said Dayton Children’s has experienced an influx of kids grappling with anxiety and depression since the pandemic. She noted it's likely there were high mental health concerns prior to the pandemic which they just weren’t aware of.

Now Dr. DeWitt said the first step in helping kids is for parents to recognize that mental health is a critical part of children’s overall health.

“The first step with all of that is staying engaged in your kids' lives, having conversations with our kids, knowing who their teachers are, knowing what the expectations for the classrooms are, but also asking them how they're feeling and how they're doing, if they have any concerns, adjusting and coping,” Dr. DeWitt said.

Dr. DeWitt explained even small changes like back to school can be difficult for kids. She said children’s mental health is impacted heavily by physical health and routines. That’s why she’s encouraging parents to make sure their kids are back on normal sleep schedules, eating healthy balanced meals, and exercising regularly.

Dr. DeWitt explained healthy and consistent routines help kids focus in school and regulate their moods.

When Walker asked, “Do you have any tips for students who may feel overwhelmed and anxious this first week back to school, given the horrific news that they've had to deal with over the past months?”

Dr. DeWitt responded, “Having those conversations about there's been some really difficult things that have happened in the school settings. Kids need to know that they're safe and to feel safe and to help them know who their safe people are when they're at school and what a typical day might look like.”

Dr. DeWitt added parents, educators, and students should be on the lookout for warning signs like drastic changes in a child’s personality or behavior such as if a shy child begins acting out, or if an outgoing child begins acting withdrawn.

“Then coping with it, kind of talking about it, finding time to relax and building time for self-care and everyone's day is an important means of helping to cope with the stressors,” said Dr. DeWitt.

In May, Dayton Children’s Hospital received $25 million from the state to expand its behavioral health unit.

While construction for the expansion is expected to start in Spring 2023 and the anticipated opening date is Spring 2025, Dr. DeWitt said Dayton Children’s Hospital is also working to expand outpatient services into the community with a focus on early interventions and screenings.

“We're also working with our school systems so that we can identify children early, who may be struggling and give them support early to maybe prevent some of those mental health challenges from escalating into more difficult conditions. We're also integrating into our pediatrician's offices, both in our practices and some practices throughout the communities, again, for that early screening and early intervention,” Dr. DeWitt added.

To access mental health resources to help educators, use this link: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/talk/educators.

To access tips to help parents and kids prepare to go back to school, use this link: https://ohpsych.org/news/360350/Back-to-School-Blues.htm.

To access resources from the National Association of School Psychologists, use this link: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts.