School-Related Mental Health Struggles: A Parent’s Guide for Signs and Solutions
Written by the Headway Editorial Team
Back-to-school transitions can trigger or worsen anxiety, sadness, and inattention in kids. Here’s how to spot the signs and support your child through the adjustment.
Going back to school after an activity-filled summer can be a big transition for any child—and for some kids, the adjustment is especially stressful. You might notice new signs of mental health struggles, like anxiety, sadness, or trouble focusing, or you may find that existing symptoms in your child already may seem worse once school is back in session. If these challenges don’t ease up after an initial adjustment period, it may be time to reach out to a health care professional who can assess your child and help them cope.
No matter which symptoms youʼre noticing, it can be challenging to see your child struggle. The good news is, with your support—and, if needed, the support of a mental health provider who works with kids—your child can return to baseline. In other words: Itʼs absolutely possible for your struggling student to feel much more like themselves again with the right support.
Read on to learn more about common school-related mental health struggles, how to recognize signs of mental health challenges in kids, and steps you can take to encourage and support your child with whatever theyʼre going through.
Common mental health challenges for students returning to school
Every child is different. Some may not struggle at all with the back-to-school transition, while others may experience more than one difficulty. Knowing which signs and symptoms to look for can help you support your child (and better understand when to seek professional support). Here are some of the most common mental health challenges that surface during the back-to-school season.
Stress, overwhelm, or nervousness
Itʼs common for kids to be nervous or overwhelmed at the start of a new school year. (You may even feel that way, too.) School involves some big and potentially stressful changes, such as adjusting to a new routine, meeting a new teacher, making friends, and managing academic responsibilities and expectations. Plus, being away from family and normal home routines can feel stressful.
Anxiety
The changes of going back to school may also cause new worries. Some kids may be concerned about the social aspect of returning to school, wondering who theyʼll play with at recess or sit with at lunch. Other kids may worry about juggling schedules and doing well in class. In any case, anxiety at the start of a new school year can be a common experience.
Sadness or grief
For many families, summer is a time of fun, relaxation, and spending time with loved ones. School often represents more structure and responsibility, so itʼs common for kids to feel sad or even express a bit of grief about returning after a few months away.
Attention issues
While specific expectations can vary, school typically requires students to pay attention and concentrate on tasks and projects. These executive function tasks, along with a sense of responsibility, can feel overwhelming or difficult to manage for some students.
When challenges become bigger than a child's usual struggles
Most children feel this way from time to time, especially under stress. The question isn’t whether your child seems anxious, sad, or distracted—it’s whether those feelings ease up or stick around. That distinction is what separates an ordinary adjustment from a clinical concern like anxiety, depression, or ADHD, all of which could benefit from treatment.
Three things tend to set a clinical issue apart: the symptoms persist well past the initial adjustment period, they worsen rather than settle, and they interfere with your child’s daily life. A child who’s nervous about a new teacher will usually relax within a few weeks; a child with clinical anxiety may still be struggling well after that, losing sleep or complaining of headaches or stomachaches.
Keep in mind that showing some of these traits doesn’t necessarily mean your child warrants a diagnosis. If you’re not sure whether what you’re seeing is cause for concern, it’s never too soon to check in with an expert. Your child’s pediatrician is a great first resource and can provide a referral to a mental health professional if needed.
Parenting struggles from the sidelines
Watching your child grapple with any of these symptoms can be difficult, and you may not know what the best next step is. Youʼre not alone. Itʼs common for parents to have trouble knowing which challenges may be considered standard for their childʼs age and circumstances, and which ones might be more significant or require more support.
You donʼt need to know all the right answers, and there are a variety of effective, evidence-based resources for kidsʼ mental health challenges. Your role is to be attentive to your childʼs needs and advocate for them so they can receive the support they need, no matter what theyʼre facing.
Signs to watch out for
Thereʼs no “one size fits allˮ symptom list. How a childʼs mental health symptoms manifest can depend on many factors, including age and development, social circumstances, personality, and cultural cues. That said, certain signs may be common enough to keep an eye out for:
Withdrawing more than usual
Kids struggling with mental health may withdraw. That may look like spending time alone in their bedroom, or becoming less talkative or willing to answer questions. They may stop reaching out to friends, avoid family activities they once enjoyed, or just seem emotionally distant. Itʼs normal for kids and teens to need occasional alone time, but ongoing withdrawal and changes in social interaction may mean theyʼre struggling.
Erratic behavior or atypical choices
Parents of kids with mental health diagnoses often report their child just doesnʼt seem like themselves. Maybe you notice your child sleeping much more than usual, eating considerably less at mealtime, or losing interest in sports or hobbies they usually like to participate in. For some kids, behavior changes can seem erratic, such as taking risks they normally wouldnʼt, acting impulsively, or breaking rules out of character. While occasional mood swings and behavior changes can be a normal part of growing up, persistent or dramatic shifts that interfere with daily life deserve attention. Itʼs important to still maintain boundaries and routines as much as you can, and follow through with consequences when rules are broken. But noticing changes in behavior and looking for patterns can help give you a better sense of what your child may be going through, and is helpful information to share with your pediatrician.
Changes at school or in activities
Mental health challenges can affect many areas of a childʼs life, including school and extracurricular activities. You might notice grades beginning to slip, difficulty concentrating or completing homework, a sudden loss in motivation, changes in performance in sports or other activities, or general behavior issues at school. Every child faces occasional setbacks, but ongoing changes in performance, attendance, or behavior may mean something more is going on.
How you can help your child
Noticing potential signs of a mental health challenge is the first step to helping your child. If youʼre concerned, thereʼs a lot you can do to support their well-being during the back-to-school transition.
Talk to your child
Open communication can make a real difference. If youʼre noticing symptoms, talk to your child about them, and explore what may be going on in their life and mind together. It can help to adapt based on your childʼs readiness to talk. If your child seems hesitant, for example, focus on listening and not jumping in to provide solutions right away. Keep in mind, too, that your child may also not be old enough to understand what theyʼre experiencing or how to handle it. It can help to normalize these challenges and perhaps even share a time youʼve dealt with them yourself.
Involve their teacher
If you suspect your child is having a difficult time at school, consider talking to their teacher to better understand what theyʼre noticing. You can also partner with teachers and school staff to give your child the support they need during the school day. For example, your child may benefit from more time on a test or project if theyʼre experiencing attention issues. For kids who have anxiety at school, having access to a trusted counselor, taking breaks when overwhelmed, or using a designated calm-down space may help.
Clarify expectations
Children of all ages benefit from structure and consistency, especially during periods of stress. For kids who are exhibiting behavior changes or acting out at home or school, clear expectations are key. Predictable routines and clear, calm expectations help kids feel safe, with consequences as one supporting tool. At the same time, try to balance accountability with empathy by acknowledging your childʼs feelings while reinforcing expectations.
Consult an expert
Itʼs never too early to enlist expert support for your child. You can turn to your pediatrician for understanding emotional or behavioral concerns. If needed, the provider can also refer your child to additional support, such as a mental health therapist to help your child build skills to manage their symptoms (or a psychiatrist, if medication is warranted).
While it can be discouraging to see your child facing mental health challenges, many effective supports and resources exist. Parents just like you are capable of supporting kids just like yours. Your Treehouse Pediatrics providers are here for your family. If you need extra support, Treehouse providers work with behavioral health partners like Headway to help families find mental health providers who accept insurance and specialize in parenting therapy—so you can get the support you need during back-to-school and beyond.
Note: This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified legal or other appropriate professionals.