Warnings Arise Over Onset of In-School Stress
October 13th, 2009
The University of Cincinnati’s psychiatry team has recently announced that parents should be on the lookout for the establishment of mood difficulties and feelings of depression and anxiety in their young children as the new school year emerges from its short “honeymoon” phase. The professionals have noted that while the establishment of a routine can lead families to feel secure about school, many children develop mental health concerns after the novelty of the new year wears off, and have suggested that mental health treatments be considered for children who exhibit signs of suffering during this time. Mental health professionals in Cincinnati and across the country may experience an increased young client base as a result.
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Comments
With the competition reaching new heights at every level, even in elementary schools, it is not a surprise that young children might need consultation for mental health problems. But it sure is a sad thing to be happening… At least little children should be spared of such ‘competition’ at a young age and it should be seen that they are kept away from stress as they have a very weak defence system and it might cause major losses to them.
Changing the distribution of vacations might help. A lot of people, especially young children, experience holiday-blues once the school re-opens and it has been found that the longer the vacation,the worse are the holiday-blues. So, instead of giving one, long holiday, schools could consider the possibility of two or more shorter holidays, so as to keep the children ‘connected’ to the school environment and the whole set-up of working days.
There is obviously something seriously wrong when school is causing young children to be depressed. Either the teachers are doing something wrong or the parents are, because there should never be that much anxiety associated with school, especially in younger kids. What in the world is going on in the classrooms today that is causing such a sharp increase in these mental health issues in younger students, and the even bigger question is what are school officials doing to curb this alarming trend?
I think it has more to do with heightened awareness of depression in children amongst teachers and other professionals involved in education than necessarily an increase in the number of children affected. School has always involved hard work and going home with a backpack full of homework would depress anyone.
The average age of persons suffering from mental health issues seems to be dropping at an alarming rate, and children being exposed to higher levels of stress at school is surely to be blamed for this trend… We need to understand that children cannot withstand these stressful situations after all.
Why point the finger at the schools for the increase and lay responsibility on them to resolve it? Their role is to educate, period. Their job is not to raise our children. Lax, inattentive parents get off too easily when that mistake is made and what’s real sad is these parents believe it’s nothing to do with them.
The home environment matters much more. Many kids that have issues at school have turbulent home lives. All schools should need do is alert the parents to problems and suggest they seek therapy for their child’s depression or whatever mental issues they need help with.
The world is different now. Children have more pressures to achieve more in a shorter time frame and at an earlier age than in any generation that preceded them. Yes, it’s not their job to raise our children and we ask more and more of educators.
However the intervention of a school may be their only hope of finding a light at the end of the tunnel when undergoing mental stress. Some parents don’t or won’t see it unless it’s front and center. Schools have had to move with the times and watch for the warning signs as well as teach.
In recent years, I have seen the pressure for kids increase dramatically. When we were kids, we had almost an hour lunch, PE and recess time. Now, clients tell me they don’t buy lunch at school — wastes too much time in line when they only have short lunch time to begin with. PE is scarce, two times a week at my own boy’s school, and the State tests and need to increase those scores commands the schools’ attention and focus. The pressure the kids feel can be tremendous and I help treat this. Then, we add the additional stressors at home and community, and the kids are indeed taxed. Stuart
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