Parenting is a journey filled with unexpected obstacles. As your teen navigates the stresses of a new school year among the turbulent waters of adolescence, there is much to be mindful about as parents and caregivers. With changes in class schedules, social anxiety, and peer pressure, your child is exposed to a wealth of new environmental factors that may have a negative effect on their mental health.
In this blog, we will help parents understand the mental health risks their students may face this school year and provide ways SunCloud Health can support the whole family.
New Environments Come with New Challenges
Whether your family has moved schools, your teen is graduating to higher levels of education, or they simply have mixed feelings about returning to the classroom, a new environment and an unfamiliar social climate can mean new risks and challenges your student must face within the academic, athletic, and social climates.
These life changes and various pressures that come with them can result in some students experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, which over time may hurt their overall school performance. In turn, those who are struggling to perform at their preferred level, while suffering the effects of mood or anxiety disorders, are more likely to look to unhealthy coping mechanisms as a distraction.
Back-to-School Stressors May Cause Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
For some adolescents, returning to the classroom can be overwhelming, especially after a calm and carefree summer at home. Being back in the trenches of academic and social pressures is a lot to handle for a student already struggling with their mental health, and without the proper tools for managing stress and anxiety, he or she may turn to drugs, alcohol, restrictive eating, or self-harming to find temporary relief and gain a sense of control.
Even in schools with the most meticulous policies, strong values, and strict authorities, prohibited items like drugs and alcohol can still be present. In fact, students as young as 6th and 7th grade have been found using vapes and other marijuana products. If your student has struggled with this in the past, it’s important to be aware of these conditions.
There is also the inherent risk for students recovering from eating disorders. Even if your student brings their lunch, they will be introduced to new foods and drinks while at the cafeteria at school, as well as their peers’ opinions on these foods. This food noise and the pressure of eating in front of others can be a lot to manage for someone recovering.
While these coping mechanisms may bring some temporary comfort, they are ultimately detrimental to students’ physical and mental health and raise their risk of developing an addiction or eating disorder.
Common Reasons Adolescents Turn to Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
Stress and Emotional Issues: Teens may use substances to find relief from stress, anxiety, or depression caused by school and societal pressures.
Perception of Safety: The legalization of marijuana in many places has led some teens to believe it is safe or harmless.
Curiosity and Peer Pressure: Teenagers are naturally curious and often influenced by their peers. While your student may be independent and not normally seek the approval of others, intricate social dynamics or complicated situations can pose the opportunity for them to experiment with or get involved with those who use substances in order to fit in.
The Risks of Substance Use for Youth
- Brain Development
The human brain continues to develop until around the age of 25. Continued substance use or other mental health disorders during this critical period can interfere with brain development, potentially affecting memory, attention, and learning. Studies have shown that regular use can lead to a decrease in IQ and cognitive functioning.
- Mental Health
Substance use is linked to an increased risk of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Teens with a family history of mental illness are particularly vulnerable.
- Academic Performance
Teens who use substances regularly are more likely to experience declines in academic performance, as these drugs can impair concentration and motivation. This leads to lower grades and a decreased likelihood of continuing education.
- Addiction
Substances can be highly addictive. Teens are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders, which can lead to dependence and the need for professional treatment.
- Physical Health
Smoking marijuana, binge drinking, taking drugs, and even restrictive eating can all have adverse effects on the body. These include negatively affecting coordination and reaction time and increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Navigating teen mental health can be challenging, but your role as a parent is crucial in guiding your adolescent through this critical period. By understanding the risks, recognizing the signs, and approaching the situation with empathy and support, you can help your teen make healthy choices. Remember, open communication and a strong support system are key elements in helping your teen navigate this successfully.
IOP Treatment Options to Help Your Adolescent
If you’re a parent seeking support in uncharted waters, leaning on highly trained and experienced professionals specializing in working with adolescents is the best approach. At SunCloud Health, we teach sustainable coping mechanisms while guiding teens toward positive lifestyle choices that set them up for success this school year, and beyond.
Our Adolescent IOP allows teens to come as they are and find refuge with others their age who struggle with the same challenges. This program addresses the root causes of their anxiety and helps them establish healthier ways to cope and overcome mental health difficulties. Adolescent IOP is available after school hours so students can find the weekly support they need without falling behind in their regular curriculum.
As a parent, you may be facing your own anxieties about this school year. If you are worried about how to approach mental health care for your child, our family programming helps ease nerves and support parents and families in finding mental health solutions.
We’re here as a resource for you. As you navigate the new school year, it is crucial to stay informed about your student’s physical and mental well-being at school.
Fit in Time for Treatment with Telehealth
If your student is struggling this back-to-school season, or you’re a parent needing support, seeking mental health treatment is the best place to start. We understand that between classes, homework, projects, extracurriculars, and work schedules, free time is hard to come by. With this, adding in therapy appointments may feel like too much to balance. That’s why SunCloud Health offers our same life-changing programs via telehealth, allowing you and your family to receive the same amount of support from our experts, from the comfort of your home. Telehealth makes managing treatment and busy schedules a lot more feasible and provides necessary resources to you and your teen to ensure a healthy and successful school year.
Visit our website to learn more about our telehealth program.
More about SunCloud’s Resources
Above all, the staff at SunCloud Health is here to support you and your family in this challenging transition season. We specialize in providing care for adolescents with co-occurring disorders and customize our offerings to the unique needs of each student, treating the whole person by targeting underlying biological, psychological, social, and spiritual causes of mental health symptoms while supplying educational resources to the whole family.
If you believe your student may need support this school year, don’t wait to get help.
Reach out to us today to help your student grow, heal, and achieve.
Visit us online at: https://suncloudhealth.com or call (844) 576-0279 to speak with an intake specialist.