Listen to kids’ back-to-school worries
Parents should be mindful as students mentally prepare for another school year.Media Contact: Vishva Nalamalapu - vnala@uw.edu
With the start of the school year, adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Yolanda Evans said this season of change is a key time for parents to be attuned to changes in their children’s mental health.
“Watch for things like isolating from their usual fun activities or not wanting to engage in things that they really enjoyed in the past or spending lots of time alone,” said Evans, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
To parents, caregivers and other adults with roles in kids’ lives, Evans suggested, “If you're worried, speak up and let them know you're worried and then help them get support.”
Evans reassured parents, “Adolescence is this amazing time of opportunity and identity development. Kids are pretty resilient overall. If we can just help support them and guide them through those rough patches, they usually turn out OK.”
In broadcast-ready soundbites and other downloadable material, Evans offers more advice about the mental well-being of students returning to school.
Editor's note: This content was originally published in August 2023.