By Bailey Katz
October 20, 2022
The school year is in full swing and balancing homework, exams, sports, and other extracurriculars can be a cause of stress for even the most engaged students.
Bailey Katz, LCPC, Family Therapist with Josselyn’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for teens, shares five signs that could indicate your child may be having mental health difficulties related to school and when to seek additional support from the school staff or a mental health provider.
Behavioral changes lasting more than 2 consecutive weeks
- Look for changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, isolating, your child being less engaged with interests, refusing to do schoolwork, and anger outbursts
Mood changes lasting more than 2 consecutive weeks
- Signs to watch for in your child: irritability, lower energy, and excessive worrying
Reporting dizziness, stomach aches, and headaches in the mornings before school most days of the week with no medical cause
Frequently asking to be picked up from school early
Refusing to get out of bed to go to school
If your child is experiencing one or more of these behaviors, Katz suggests starting with talking with them about these changes and ask open ended questions.
If your child is not comfortable talking with you about what is going on, suggest making an appointment with the school social worker or counselor and remind your child they are not alone with these difficulties.
