For today’s youth, mental health holds a significance in their day-to-day lives. As we head back-to-school this September, many students may struggle with changes in their daily routine or encounter new challenges in school. Parents and caregivers should keep an eye out for persistent behavioral changes, excessive stress, or withdrawal as indicators that your student is facing a mental health-related challenge.
Looking at the numbers, an estimated one in six children have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder today. As outlined by the CDC, mental health disorders are described as “serious changes to the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems throughout the day.” ADHD, anxiety, behavioral problems, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses in children.
Heading back-to-school can mean a variety of changes for students. Mood swings for many children can be a direct result of lifestyle changes, such as returning to school, waking up earlier, or even seeing more new faces and less recognizable family members throughout the day. Through a study performed by the Child Mind Institute, titled “2021 Children’s Mental Health Report,” 70 percent of children reported some degree of mental discomfort, resulting in loneliness, irritability, or fidgetiness in their day-to-day lives.
Technology also remains important for children’s mental health. According to GenPsych, just an hour of screen time a day can “make children more likely to be anxious or depressed.” Ensuring that children hold interests outside of social media and technology can make them more curious, emotionally stable, and increase their ability to finish tasks. Parents and caregivers can practice screen time limits for children by adding other activities outside of technology to their student’s after-school routine.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 75% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem aren’t getting the help they need. Oaks Integrated Care offers support and resources to increase access to care for youth throughout New Jersey.
Our programs for youth include:
- School-Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP Trenton)
- Community Group Homes
- Youth Partial Care
- Outpatient Counseling Services
- In-Home and Community Services
- Crisis Stabilization Services
To learn more about services or schedule an appointment, call our Access Center at 1-800-963-3377 or fill out a contact form.
