NYAPRS Note: Students of any age can experience stress with the coming of a new school year. But for children and adolescents who experienced bullying, stress, depression, or feelings of inadequacy in the previous school year, the coming of September can be laden with debilitating anxiety. Parents, children and adolescents, and young adults do not have to face this alone; there are many resources outside of the school system to help promote wellness throughout the school year and counter effects of bullying or excessive stress. See the resources linked below for information and assistance from Mental Health America.
Mental Health America Press Release:
Mental Health America Provides New Resources on Student Mental Health Tips and Information for Parents and Students; Survey on Bullying
Contact: America Paredes, (703) 838-7523 or aparedes@mentalhealthamerica.net
In recognition of the challenges a new school year presents, Mental Health America is providing new
resources on student mental health (http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/R?i=rR2e4c2fIiHpHxJ0p3YhKA).
“A student’s mental health is just as important as their general health,” said Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of
Mental Health America. “We know the start of a new school year can be a stressful time for students all ages. These resources are designed to help parents, teachers, and other caregivers talk to kids about what’s going on at school and help students of all ages.”
In addition to a list of important steps parents and others can take to support children as they head back to school, fact sheets address challenges and issues that students confront in schools and their communities.
These materials, which are available for download at
http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/R?i=hqa0J2_AFa9YUKmQmqATWg , cover:
* Children’s Mental Health Matters: Promoting Children’s Mental Health
* Children’s Mental Health Matters: Take a Closer Look
* Bullying: Tips for Parents
* Bullying and LGBT Youth
* What to Do If You Are Being Bullied
* Healthy Mental and Emotional Development
* Parent/Advocate Back to School Checklist
Parents and students can also participate in an anonymous survey on bullying by going to the site.
For students in college, Mental Health America has developed Back to Campus materials and an accompanying toolkit that provides parents and young adults with helpful information and resources.
The materials, available at http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/R?i=QHgj5f6tU2BgTw7xwGCapQ , address:
* Stressed or Depressed? Know the Difference
* Boost Your School Performance by Taking Care of You
* Top Ten Freshman Year Issues (and how to deal with them)
* Alcohol, Substance Abuse and Depression
There is also information for colleges and universities about what types of services should be in place to address the mental health needs of the student body.
Mental Health America’s website has additional material on children’s mental health available here.
http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/R?i=1guMj8xd4bf8wnUX4Voudw