LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – As Mid-Michigan students head back to the classroom, their mental health is in the spotlight. Returning to school is an exciting time for many, but it can also bring a variety of stresses.
“The start of a new school year brings with it a number of challenges,” explains Heather Findley, mental health coordinator for East Lansing Public Schools, “and one of the reasons for that is that for many students, and indeed all students, routine and structure tend to be very important aspects of development – learning how to self-regulate emotions and expectations. After months without that, trying to jump right back into it can feel abrupt.”
Jennifer Cronkite, behavioral and mental health specialist for Holt Public Schools, said going back to school, like anything new, can cause stress.
“I think that anything new or different can sometimes cause anxiety or tension, and it varies from person to person, from child to adult,” Cronkite said.
Demand for mental health services has increased in recent years and has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet the demand, some school districts are adding staff and providing mental health resources to their districts. Other districts are partnering with local organizations, such as Community Mental Health (CMH), to provide these services.
“We’ve seen dramatic changes, most of which have happened in the last five to 10 years,” said Dr. David Hornak, superintendent of Holt Public Schools. He added, “We’re really focused on educating the whole child, and if students have needs outside of academics, we try to meet those.”
“The demand is huge. It’s huge,” explains Jodi Nelson with Community Mental Health, “There are a variety of reasons families bring their children in, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a major crisis.”
There are a growing number of mental health resources that Mid-Michiganers can turn to, but local experts we spoke with say addressing mental health issues takes the cooperation of the entire community.
For parents whose children are struggling with the transition back to school or other situations, CMH’s Jody Nelson has this advice:
“Don’t wait. If parenting is hard and you’re struggling with the challenges your kids are facing right now, most of us parents have never faced similar challenges. Parenting is complicated, it’s hard, and it’s scary not knowing what to do as a parent. There are a lot of people out there who don’t know what to do, but you don’t have to wait,” Nelson said.
Jennifer Cronkite of the Holt School says one of the first people to turn to is a student’s teacher.
“You probably know them best and they know your child, so the teacher in that classroom would be in a very good position to say, ‘I think it would be best to refer you to the school social worker, or let’s reach out to a specialist in the district, or this looks like a situation that might need some outside support,'” Cronkite said.
Experts told News 10 they believe the efforts to remove the negative stigma surrounding mental health are working, encouraging people who are suffering to be more open about their struggles and seek help when they need it. Experts hope the efforts will continue and that funding will increase in the coming years to continue funding these resources for the community.
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