As kids around Hendricks County head back for school this month, parents, guardians, teachers, and school staff are preparing how to best support them this semester. With classes and extracurriculars comes new stressors and social situations. Add on top of that the recent cellphone ban enacted by the State legislature, and we have a recipe for upset.
Every student is different, with unique needs, emotional processing, coping skills, and resources available to them. However, something they all share in common is the fact that they will likely be challenged by something this school year. When unaddressed, these challenges can lead to increases in mental health symptoms.
There are three related questions The Willow Center team frequently hears around this time of year from adults serving young people in our community:
- How Common is Depression, Anxiety, and Other Mental Health Struggles in Youth?
More common than you think! According to the Indiana Youth Institute, approximately 1 in 4 (25%) kids in Hendricks County have experienced a mental health struggle in the past 12 months. In other words, your family is not alone. From elementary schoolers up through high schoolers, experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other difficulties for 2+ weeks at a time is quite common.
- What Signs or Symptoms Should I Be Aware Of?
Despite each child being unique, there are several common warning signs that a child is struggling. These include, but are not limited to:
- Persistent sadness, mood swings, or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
- Excessive worry, fear, panic attacks, jitteriness, or a constant sense of unease.
- Changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or unexplained weight.
- Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, staying motivated, or increased fixation/obsession.
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or other social activities.
- Avoiding people, places, or situations due to anxiety or past experiences.
- Increased or new alcohol or substance use.
- Physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal distress.
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or self-harming behaviors.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child or in a student you are serving, consider trying to connect with them intentionally one-on-one, and verbally offer your support.
- What Can I Do to Help Myself or My Child?
Research by Kaiser Permanente and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the number one predictor of a young person’s positive health is having at least one loving, caring, supportive adult in their life they can rely upon. When young people are experiencing mental health struggles, the best thing you can do for them is to remind them of your presence, and connect them to professional support, such as group counseling or individual therapy.
If there is a young person in your life who needs support, The Willow Center is here for them. Please reach out to us today by calling 317-852-3690!
Written by Chase Cotten, Operations & Community Director.
Reviewed by Ashley English, LAC.
