KWQC | Back-to-School Anxiety
Back to school time can be exciting for students as they reunite with friends and start a new grade, but for kids who struggle with anxiety, depression, or change, it can be a stressful time. TV6 spoke with mental health professionals on how parents can help their kids deal with back-to-school anxiety.
“If they’re afraid, talk them through that. What is it about it that makes it so scary?,” said Richard Whitaker Ph.D., the CEO of Vera French Mental Health Center. “Listen. Don’t judge. Don’t jump in. Don’t correct. Just listen and validate it. Help them to know that it’s okay to share their negative feelings with you about school, and then help them to understand that there’s maybe another side to it too.”