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.

Check out these related articles
Fostering Growth and Excellence
Fostering Growth and Excellence

Josselyn Welcomes Record-Breaking Class of Clinical InternsIn a testament to its commitment to quality mental health care, Josselyn is proud to welcome its largest class of clinical interns yet. This year, 30 interns hailing from 13 area schools and universities have...

A Look Inside Josselyn’s Nuestro Center
A Look Inside Josselyn’s Nuestro Center

Last week Josselyn hosted an open house at Nuestro Center in Highwood to showcase its services and positive impact on the local Latino community. Nuestro Center, formerly part of Family Service of Lake County (FSLC) and now a program of Josselyn, empowers Latino...

Get holistic care that meets your needs

Our hope is to help you achieve mental wellness. Start the conversation today.

Get Started