The State of Student Mental Health
According to a new report by the CDC, poor mental health among children continues to be a substantial public health concern. The WHO recently released a scientific brief stating there was a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide during the first year of the pandemic, with children representing an alarming portion of the affected population. What can we do as parents to help our school-aged children with their ongoing mental health challenges? How can we help them succeed both emotionally and academically?
Connection
Help your child feel connected to family, school, and community. According to the CDC, school connectedness is “the belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about them as individuals.” Students who feel this way show improvement in their overall academic achievement, including higher grades and test scores, better school attendance, and remaining in school longer.
Here are a few examples of how to connect with your child and help your child feel school connectedness:
Spend time with your child watching a favorite movie, playing a board game, or just having more in-depth conversations about the day, the week, and life.
Do something together that you both enjoy.
Volunteer at your child’s school to demonstrate that you are invested in and supportive of their day-to-day life and experience at school. This is where our one-on-one coach support is vital for many students. Our goal is for your child’s coach to become a trusted confidant, advisor, and personal cheerleader.
Good Sleep Habits
Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. We say this often, but the positive effects of consistent and quality sleep need repeating. Studies have shown getting 8 hours of sleep can have a substantial impact on academic success. Getting enough sleep is also crucial to giving the mind time to rest, recharge, and process the information from the day. Research has shown as many as two-thirds of high school students don’t get enough sleep. Most students are chronically exhausted physically, intellectually, and emotionally. The physical, mental, and behavioral problems that occur when a teen goes without sleep are huge, so it is important to focus on getting teens the amount of sleep they need.
Encourage Physical Activity
Limiting sedentary activities and being physically active can also have a positive impact on mental health, grades, and academic achievement. Studies have found that sedentary behavior throughout adolescence is associated with a greater risk of depressive symptoms in teens. Increasing any type of physical activity through sports, dance, or play is an important step in mitigating the risk of depression in later teenage years. Have a dance party, play an active indoor game, go for a walk/run together, or make a family fitness challenge. Physical activity helps the body produce the hormones to keep your child in a positive mood and full of energy. Even walking or biking around the neighborhood with friends counts as being active, so make sure to encourage your child to get outside.
At Illuminos, we provide structure, motivation, and accountability. Our 360-degree support includes monitoring school portals, reinforcing concepts taught in the classroom, and working with everyone in the student’s circle of support. Your Illuminos Coach will work with your family, teachers, school administrators, therapists, psychiatrists, and others, so your child can improve his or her academics, emotional wellbeing, independence, and social skills. Your child’s Illuminos Coach will become a trusted confidant, advisor, and personal cheerleader while raising expectations for success
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