Learning is a launchpad for life.
Unfortunately, schools have become a source of anxiety for students. Addictions to digital devices, a rise in cyberbullying, and increased social isolation have all endangered the mental health of children and adolescents around the world.
This trend is especially pronounced during the back to school transition, where the end of summer triggers an onslaught of psychological setbacks.
In this article, we will provide an overview of the data surrounding youth and adolescent mental health in America. After unpacking the emotional and physical signs of trauma, we will offer actionable strategies and resources to help you keep your kids safe—at home and in the classroom.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health: What the Data Says
Growing up has never been easy, and every generation has faced its own hardships.
Nevertheless, the modern American youth encounters obstacles that have no precedent. After all, they’re among the first generations to be born into a fully digital world.
Almost half of U.S. kids own a smartphone by the age of 10, on which they average 8 hours of screen time per day. In fact, nearly one in five teenagers admits to scrolling on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram “almost constantly.”
While technology can certainly be a societal good, overuse can cause great harm. Indeed, digital addictions often drive children and adolescents to lengthy periods of isolation and depression.
Several statistics reveal the scope of the problem:
- Over 20% of U.S. adolescents experience a major depressive episode every year.
- Over 5.6 million kids have been diagnosed with anxiety problems.
- Youth suicide rates have risen 62% since 2007.
These horrifying statistics demand explanation.
Many researchers lay the blame at the feet of social media, alleging that it creates disembodied echo chambers of comparison and envy that young minds are incapable of handling.
Worse yet, while children are absorbed into the virtual reality of social media and internet-based distraction, they are lured away from more meaningful ventures—like interpersonal friendships, athletic pursuits, and artistic explorations.
As Jonathan Haidt writes in his New York Times bestselling, The Anxious Generation, “The phone-based life produces spiritual degradation, not just in adolescents, but in all of us.”
In order to combat this corruption, parents must know how their children are undermined.
Understanding Youth Mental Health Challenges
In this article, back to school advice begins with a thought experiment: try to put yourself back in the shoes of your youth.
Remember what it feels like to go back to school after several months of summer. Rehearse the pressure to fit in and be liked by your peers. Recall the accompanying sights, sounds, and smells associated with the classroom, the gym, and the cafeteria.
Be honest. It’s at least a little intimidating, right?
Whether for second grade or senior year, the first day of school is always stressful. And though the classrooms and hallways may look familiar, they’re also slightly different.
They’ve changed, because you’ve changed.
Now imagine you’re in school, but this time, much of your experience is uploaded to TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. People aren’t passing Post-It notes anymore: now, they’re texting each other.
Pictures and videos of you show up on other people’s accounts (often without your permission), and brazen anonymous comments abound.
This is the brave new world your children inhabit, and it’s the ecosystem that breeds the following challenges.
1. Anxiety and Stress
Insecurities invade the mind in a million ways.
Chief among these concerns is the desire to fit in: to make friends, to gain popularity, and to be accepted in a shifting environment.
It’s no surprise that concerns about body image are so pervasive. Such worries are now exacerbated by smartphone cameras, which make self-consciousness even harder to escape.
There are also countless academic stressors and the pressure to perform well on tests and meet homework deadlines.
Of course, children of immigrant parents must also navigate a spectrum of additional challenges, like learning a new language, overcoming homesickness, and adapting to an entirely new culture.
When it comes to school, stress is omnipresent for everyone.
2. Transitioning Routines
Most American schools start in August, when the weather remains hot and the days long.
For most kids, working in a classroom while it still feels like summer can unleash major cognitive dissonance.
“I’d rather be outside.”
That’s why the first few weeks of school are often the most demanding, as they break old routines while instilling new ones. Therefore, it’s essential to be patient with children and adolescents throughout this uncomfortable transition.
This is an area where homeschooling (which is on the rise in America) may have the edge over public and private alternatives. After all, more flexible schedules allow for more time outside.
3. Cyberbullying
Comparison and competition are hallmark traits of human beings.
Unfortunately, these habits can turn dangerous. As infamously depicted in The Lord of the Flies, domineering youths will assert themselves over their more vulnerable peers, causing psychological (and even physical) harm.
Worse yet, the digital world has given birth to cyberbullying in a variety of insidious forms.
In fact, nearly 60% of U.S. teens have been victims of an online bullying attack, from offensive name-calling and slander, to stalking, posting embarrassing media, and even threatening physical violence.
While cyberbullying is statistically common, most youths suffer silently. According to recent studies, over 55% of victims will never report an incident or tell an adult about an attack.
Sadly, the overwhelming shame and fear of retaliation often compel victims to endure pain, rather than seek a remedy.
Over time, these patterns can have disastrous effects. Indeed, youths who experience cyberbullying are four times more likely to consider and attempt suicide than those who do not.
Parents are the first and last line of defense against cyberbullying. As an adult, you must be prepared to recognize the signs of abuse and promptly take action to address them.
Signs Parents Should Watch For
You know your child better than anyone.
Though school teachers and coaches may offer input about your child, you are the one who ultimately dictates their development.
Nevertheless, parents must be equipped with the proper tools to recognize when their kids are struggling. To that end, the following signs of suffering are worth your review.
1. Behavioral Changes
Mental health challenges often manifest in subtle lifestyle shifts.
For example, your child may have a notably increased or decreased appetite, or they may go to sleep considerably earlier or later than their typical bedtime.
If your child’s habits shift in any meaningful way, they may be signaling some kind of internal or external problem.
2. Avoidance Patterns
Sometimes, kids under psychological duress will isolate themselves from others.
For example, if your child spends an increasing amount of time alone in their room, avoids social gatherings, or ignores questions about school, they may be showing symptoms of a mental roadblock or ostracization.
Increased secrecy surrounding their digital life— i.e. hiding their smartphone or logging out of their computer— may also signal a desire to cloak a problem.
3. Physical Symptoms
If your child has any obvious injuries, like unexplained bruises or scratches, address the matter immediately.
While all children are prone to accidents, it’s important to find out if anyone has physically harmed your child. If they confirm that they have been bullied by a student, contact the school right away.
In more extreme circumstances, you may also consider contacting the local police.
Other symptoms worth investigating can include inexplicably lost or “missing” items, like jewelry, electronics, books, clothing or other important possessions your child may have.
4. Emotional Indicators
When a child’s mental health is under attack, they will often exhibit emotional shifts like increased irritability and despondency. Mood swings and “acting out” are common signs of angst.
If you witness any outbursts, whether of anger, fear, or sadness, your child may be experiencing a mental health crisis. This is also true if they express melancholic language, thoughts of suicidality, or violent intentions.
5. Dropping Grades
Children enduring mental health challenges often struggle to focus on schoolwork.
Academic symptoms may not manifest immediately. Over time, however, a child’s success in the classroom will begin to falter if they are repressing psychological or physical trauma.
If you notice a sharp decline in your child’s test scores and report cards, or if you observe that their homework assignments take longer to complete than usual, speak with them about the underlying causes.
If your child is unable to articulate their academic struggles, consider speaking with their teacher(s) to receive a more detailed explanation.
How Parents Can Support Their Children
Your child’s safety is your top priority.
If they suffer, you suffer along with them. And when they succeed, you share in their joy.
Frankly, youth and adolescent mental health challenges and cyberbullying are two of the most burdensome subjects to consider, and even imagining them in relation to your child can cause significant stress.
There is hope on the horizon, as these strategies can help you defend your children in their academic and social lives:
Open Communication
What’s the #1 thing you can do for your child? Create a trusting environment for them. Just remember how awkward it is to be a child or adolescent, and how impossible it can seem to admit to fears and insecurities. That’s why a listening, non-judgmental ear is the secret to opening up hidden pain. If you can help your child feel safe in sharing their struggles, you will be able to help them in all seasons of life.
Limit Screen Time
The digital world can be a dangerous place for anyone, especially kids and teenagers. Try to set boundaries on the devices they use, the websites they visit, and the hours they spend online. Monitor their social media accounts—even if that means openly “friending” or “following” them—and keep records and screenshots of any threatening messages, texts, or pictures sent by bad influences and bullies.
Model Good Behavior
Children are mimetic; they observe and copy their parents.
Therefore, it’s very important that you become the standard bearer of moral rectitude. Show your kids that you can use your devices reliably, then put them away when you don’t need them. And whenever problems arise—whether amongst friends or coworkers—show them how you disarm tense situations.
But rather than “performing your perfection,” show your kids that adults aren’t immune to challenges. By demonstrating how you handle the uncertainties of life, you will equip your kids with invaluable tools.
Promote Healthy Habits
It doesn’t take much to destabilize the day.
A lack of sleep or poor nutrition can deprive kids of the vitality they need to thrive in and out of school.
Therefore, create a home life that prioritizes health in every sector: diet, exercise, and rest. According to the CDC, kids and teenagers who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to develop mental health problems and suffer in their academics.
Healthy habits should also include a regular “detox” from digital devices. Compelling substitutes can include reading books, practicing an instrument, learning a new sport, and playing outside.
Resources for Additional Support
Combating mental health challenges and bullying can be daunting.
Fortunately, you don’t need to go it alone. Here are some free (and low cost) resources to help you move forward with confidence:
- Local Child/Adolescent Mental Healthcare: to find a youth counselor in your area, click the Child/Adolescent Mental Health tab and enter your zip code. You can also use this resource for other tools, like conducting a mental health evaluation.
- United We Dream: Undocumented immigrants can use this resource to connect with culturally responsive therapists through low-cost (and completely confidential) mental health services. Check out the United We Dream Undocuhealth Initiative to learn more.
- Stop Bullying: Want a complete guide to identify and stop cyberbullying? The Stop Bullying government initiative will show you what to do, how to respond, and who to contact if your child is under attack.
- Therapy for LatinX: Looking to connect your child with the right therapist? Check out Therapy for LatinX for an array of affordable psychotherapists, counselors, and social workers who truly understand you and your family.
We will continue to update this list as more resources become available. In the meantime, we recommend searching for counselors in your local area. Simply visit Inclusive Therapists to find the right fit.
Important: in the event of a mental health emergency, call 988—the U.S. suicide and crisis hotline, available 24 hours a day in both English and Spanish.
uLink: Defending Your Family
Going back to school involves a lot more than returning to classrooms and textbooks. It’s about resuming the road to adulthood, with all of its challenges and opportunities.
As a parent, you must be prepared for the journey ahead and stand ready to advocate for your child the moment they need you.
It’s important to tell your kids that their pain is not their fault—especially if they have been bullied. Show them grace and forgiveness, and let them know that they are loved, especially when others are dragging them down.
If you can foster an environment of trust and honesty with your kids, you will weather the storms of life and build relationships that last a lifetime.
At uLink, we’re dedicated to helping you support your family back home.
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