Back to school mental health tips 

Aug 16, 2024

As students of all ages and their parents prepare for back-to-school season, CMHA Waterloo Wellington and the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs remind people to keep mental health in mind. 

Whether students are returning to the same school, entering a new school year, or heading off to post-secondary, the transition can be exciting, but can cause stress and anxiety too.

CMHA WW and the Grove offers tips to support mental health: 

1. One of the most powerful ways of supporting each other through the process of returning to school is trying to understand how everyone is feeling about it. Find the right time to ask questions to get a sense of what’s on everyone’s mind. Listening to what everyone is experiencing – and not criticizing – gives open space to talk about what’s going on or ask questions they have about the school year.
2. Share that it’s normal to feel nervous about going back to school, or starting at a new school (this could be kindergarten, high school or even post-secondary) when you normalize the feeling, it makes it more manageable. Hearing their concerns and validating their feelings without necessarily being able to solve the problem. We don’t need to have all the answers, all the time. For a lot of people, resilience comes from having just one person in their corner who sees them and understands what they are going through. From there, you can start problem-solving together by focusing on what is in your control to change.
3. Normalize the topic that summer is coming to an end and that school will be starting. This could be introduced through a countdown to the first day of school on a family calendar and/or gradually getting back into school year structure and routines including meal and snack times similar to the school’s schedule. 
4. Set a bedtime (and/or wake-up time), moving it closer to what it should be for the school year. Setting a screen curfew (a “downtime” after which point there are no screens) is also beneficial. Sleep is important for overall mental health for everyone (children, youth, and adults). 
5. Consider taking younger children to play at the school playground to become re-acquainted with the space and walk the route to school or the bus. It may be helpful for youth to visit their school as well. Prepare by creating a list, shopping and packing necessities, whether this is school supplies or things you will need when beginning post-secondary. Preparation helps with feelings of uncertainty. 

Here are the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs recommendations for youth transitioning to high-school or post-secondary education this upcoming school year: 

1. Get familiar with your new school and/or campus, and other important locations like your dorm, lecture halls, library, parking, and student services 
2. Set goals for the school year; Setting goals can motivate you throughout the school year and gives you something to feel motivated to work for 
3. Prioritize physical and mental health; Doing things like making sure you get enough sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, and participating in mindfulness can help create a healthy body and mind which will be useful for academic success
4. Develop strong study habits. Creating strong and independent study habits can help you be more successful academically. Plan and make a schedule. Familiarizing yourself with your course’s syllabus can help you plan out your semester, when you’re going to study, go to the library, have downtime to hang out with friends, etc. 
5. Ask for help if needed; Asking for help can be beneficial to not only your academic success but also your mental health. Being connected to friends, family, teachers, counsellors, etc. can provide support and help decrease stress and anxiety. Connect with your peers. Doing things like participating in orientation events, joining clubs, and attending your program’s social events can help you meet people who share similar interests, or other things in common. Having a community can help with your mental health and can make the transition easier. 

While transitions can create short-term changes to emotions and behaviours, watching for major changes over time when it comes to mental health is important. Shifts in mental health are displayed through outbursts or excessive mood swings, worry leading to stomach and body aches, persistent nightmares and lack of sleep, avoidance of formerly enjoyable activities, becoming unusually quiet or preoccupied, a change in appetite and a significant change in behaviour that is not readily explained.

As you transition your routine back to school, The Grove offers mental health support to help manage anxiety, stress, and emotional challenges, as well as strategies for coping with homesickness, academic pressure, and social adjustments at locations across Guelph Wellington. It hosts skill-building workshops on effective study habits, financial literacy, and stress management, along with social activities like drop-ins and programming to build friendships and combat loneliness. The Grove’s youth ambassadors offer peer-to-peer support and can connect individuals to various community services such as employment assistance, financial aid, and academic tutoring. Ongoing support is available for students throughout their college or university career at The Grove.

IMPACT is another resource available for students in post-secondary supporting someone or those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.  The CMHA Waterloo Wellington and the University of Guelph Campus Safety Office and the University of Waterloo Special Constable Service partner as Integrated Mobile Police And Crisis Teams (IMPACT). IMPACT provides an immediate response to those on the University of Guelph or University of Waterloo campuses undergoing a mental health crisis by dispatching dedicated mental health professionals alongside campus safety officers/special constables when assisting with crisis calls.

CMHA Waterloo Wellington provides several services for children and youth and their parents/caregivers.
The children and youth (0-18 years old) whom we support have mental health and/or developmental challenges. Our services are provided in Guelph and Wellington County. Please click here to learn about our services.

If you are in crisis or need support for you or a loved one in Waterloo Wellington, please call our Here 24/7 crisis line at 1-844-437-3247 (Here 247).