Bucks students urged to talk about back to school worries
The NSPCC has reported many students are particularly anxious about being back at school.
Pupils across Buckinghamshire returned to school last week.
Students in Buckinghamshire are being encouraged to share how they are feeling around returning to school with those around them.
The NSPCC has reported that over a third of counselling session in August were around the return to school.
Dr Katy Atkinson Jones, Clinical Psychologist at Oxford Health says its a really difficult time for children and young people:
"It is a really difficult time for children with school stress and exams worries and it is important to acknowledge that and give children space to talk about it.
"So, if teachers and parents can ask children how they're feeling and let them know that they know that things are difficult for them, then that validation and talking about things is really key.
"Things feel very out of control for children and everyone really, but focusing on things that children can control right now can be really helpful for them."
She also warned that children and young people can find it difficult to verbalise mental health worries like anxiety, so it's important to look out for other symptoms like a lack of interest in hobbies, fighting with family and physical symptoms like headaches and stomach pains.
Snapshots from Childline contacts:
“I’m really worried about going back to school. I should be taking my GCSE’s next summer and I am worried I am going to fail them all because of home schooling. I am also worried about putting my parents at risk of getting Covid-19 when I am back at school as there’s more than 1000 of us there and my parents are both high risk and have been shielding. I have to use public transport to get to school and go from building to building, walking past loads of other people who could have the virus without showing any symptoms.”
(Girl, aged 15)
For some though a return to school means a break from a stressful environment:
“My mum and dad have been arguing all the time and I worry about their relationship. I’m finding it hard to cope at home and I don’t have anyone I can speak to. I miss seeing my friends and teachers, I can’t wait to go back to school.”
(Girl, aged 10)
Dr Katy Atkinson Jones, says it is important to recognise the stress for those around the children as well, as this can impact their ability to help:
"It is a really unique situation that we are in at the moment, because it is not only children that are feeling anxious. There is also on a level teachers and parents that are feeling anxious.
"The most important thing is for people to look after themselves. So, to make sure we practise our own self care and we take time for ourselves.
"For example teachers and parents are more likely to be able to support children through these anxiety provoking times if they look after themselves."
Some of the main causes of anxiety around school were identified by the NSPCC as:
Worried about catching Covid-19 and making themselves and family members ill, with particular concerns around using public transport to get to/from school.
Those who had been bullied at school were scared and worried about the bullying resuming when they returned having had some respite since lockdown.
Worried about being behind with school work due to home schooling and how this will negatively impact their future exams.
Oxford Health have a meantal health support team that works with carers and teachers to promote mental well being and teach how to support children's anxiety and emotional difficulty within schools.
They also offer individual intervention by working with children if they are a little bit older or parents if they are younger.
To find out more information about this service and other support services available visit the Bucks Mind website or visit Oxford Healths CAMHS site for Bucks residents.