Back-to-school season can be a stressful time for the family. It can be hard for kids to settle into a new routine, especially after a few months away on vacation, where they might have felt more like themselves. Maybe your child is also starting a new school or making a transition from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school. Sports tryouts, making new friends, and balancing homework with other obligations can be a lot for one child to handle – and as a parent, you might start to worry about their mental health.
The good news is that there are a lot of affordable, accessible ways to make mental health improvements during the back-to-school season. This includes starting to introduce new communication patterns, creating routines, and, of course, looking into treatment at a Maryland wellness center. Therapy and behavioral health treatment are excellent ways to improve mental health at all ages and stages, and wellness centers like Triumph Behavioral Health are excellent places to pursue mental health services.
Why Does Mental Health Matter During Back-to-School Season?
Mental health matters during every month of the year, but there are several reasons it is extra important to pay attention to mental health during a transition, such as sending your child back to school.
Transitions often cause discomfort because routines have to be broken and remade, and things that provide comfort (such as staying close to home, getting to visit relatives regularly, or spending lots of time outside) may have to change. Plus, sending a child back to school can cause a lot of anxiety in terms of meeting new people, having to keep up with schoolwork, and handling social dynamics.
Managing mental health in these moments is crucial because common mental health ailments, such as depression and anxiety, can have lasting, long-term effects on your child’s potential. Poor mental health management is linked to repeating grades, dropping out of school, and delays in reading and writing skill development. Additionally, depression can lead to self-destructive behaviors in children and a disinterest in learning. Anxiety, especially social anxiety, can make social interactions difficult for children and leave them feeling isolated and unhappy.
Everyone deserves to have every opportunity to meet their potential and be the best version of themselves. It’s best to establish healthy mental health habits in childhood. And, as always, if you feel that your child would be served by finding a nurse practitioner therapist in Baltimore, seeking out a Maryland wellness center is always a good idea.
Tips for Mental Health During Back-to-School Season
There are a lot of things you can do to establish good mental health practices for the back-to-school season. Make sure to set a good routine, work on creating a schedule, and communicate often with your child about their mental health.
#1: Nutrition
A well-balanced diet can go a long way toward improving mental health. Making sure your student eats plenty of fruits and vegetables for vitamins and nutrients, protein to feel full and build strong muscles, dairy to improve bone mass, water to stay hydrated, whole-wheat bread for energy, and plenty of seeds, nuts, and beans is a great way to improve mental health.
It may come as a surprise that lots of food contains hidden chemicals and added sugar. While sugar is fine in moderation, feeding a child too much sugar can lead to “sugar crashes” or intense spikes in energy followed by intense dips, sluggishness, and anxiety. As much as you can, avoid these overly processed foods and see how your child’s mood and mental health can improve with a balanced diet and enough water to keep them going throughout the day.
If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of balancing your child’s dietary needs with their mental health, finding a therapist in Baltimore or a therapist in Towson is a great way to start.
#2: Sleep
Getting enough sleep is a crucial aspect of ensuring that a child has all of the mental health resources available to them that they might need. When we don’t get enough sleep, humans tend to be more emotionally reactive, more quick to anger or other extreme emotions, less able to emotionally regulate, and less able to retain information and build up short-term memory. Having enough sleep is also an important component of building a routine, which is often crucial for a child’s mental health.
As we get closer to back-to-school season, start instituting the bedtime your child will have during the school year, and wake them up around the time school will be starting. Getting onto this schedule ahead of time not only will help their emotional regulation in general, but also will help them prepare for the school year and ease into this transition.
There are many options for Maryland counseling that can be helpful when addressing your child’s sleep issues. Seek out a therapist in Towson today to begin working on the effects sleep can have on your child’s mental health.
#3: Support Systems
A huge aspect of mental health is having a support system you and your child can rely upon. This may include family members, neighborhood friends, and, of course, teachers. Before your child starts school, introduce yourself to their teachers and, if possible, attend any events like a “Back to School Night.”
If you will be carpooling for school, make sure your child knows the families they’ll be riding with ahead of time. Be sure to know the parents of their friends, so you have familiar faces you can trust and rely on. This will do wonders for a child’s mental health.
A great way to amplify your child’s support system is to seek out the best therapists in Maryland. There are many psychologists in Baltimore County who provide Maryland counseling and other services like medication management. At Triumph Behavioral Health, we are ready to be part of a strong support system for your child.
#4: Therapy
If you feel that these methods aren’t enough to help mental health during back-to-school season, you might be considering, “Should I find a therapist near me?” Locating a psychologist in Baltimore County may seem daunting, but finding the best therapists in Maryland does not need to be hard. Let’s explore some commonly asked questions about mental health services in Maryland…
How much is a therapy session in Maryland?
For those wondering, “How much is a therapy session in Maryland?”... The answer is that it varies greatly depending on whether your practitioner takes insurance, what type of therapy you’re looking for, and how often you plan on attending. The good news is that there are countless options out there, and you are sure to find a type of therapy that is within your budget.
How to find a therapist in Maryland?
To find a therapist in Maryland, there are many ways to start. You can check out websites like Psychology Today to peruse their bank of available therapists. You can also visit Triumph Behavioral Health’s website to learn more about the behavioral health management options available to you ahead of the back-to-school season.
Start the School Year on the Right Foot
Don’t take any chances when it comes to your child’s health this back-to-school season! Take the time to establish good, healthy routines, and don’t be afraid to get help at a place like Triumph Behavioral Health. When looking for the right mental health provider near you, contact us today to make sure your child’s mental health is in the best shape possible for this coming school year and far beyond.