THE START OF SCHOOL. IT MEANS NOW IS THE TIME TO GET ALL YOUR FINAL PREPARATIONS DONE. BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR BRINGS WITH IT SOME FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS ANTHONY KING FROM A ELITE DAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. GOOD MORNING. YEAH GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE. OKAY, SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR OF. IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON KIDS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. AND IF WE DON’T TAKE CARE OF THIS, THIS GOING TO AFFECT WHAT THEY DO AND, THEIR PRODUCTIVITY IN SCHOOL. YES. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT CHALLENGES OUR YOUTH HAVE TODAY. SO DEFINITE NOT HAVING THE SUPPLIES YOU NEED, THE TOOLS YOU NEED SUCCEED WILL LEAD TO THEM BEING UNPAID, ACTIVE. THEY’LL BE MORE CONCERNED WHAT THEY LACK INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE IN SCHOOL. SO IT’S VERY THAT WE GET THEM WHAT WE NEED. YEAH. AND HOW TO PARENTS AS WE AT OUR KIDS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON ESPECIALLY THOSE TEEN YEARS. IT’S ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT. HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND AND MAKE SURE THEY TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL A LITTLE MORE SMOOTH OR EASY? WONDERFUL QUESTION. CAN CHECK IN WITH OUR CHILDREN. I ALWAYS ADVOCATE EVEN FOR MY PATIENTS PARENTS. GO AHEAD. CHECK IN WITH YOUR TEENAGERS CHECK IN WITH YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. GET THEM BACK. THEIR ROUTINE SUMMER HAS THROWN US ALL OFF TRACK. SO WE NEED TO GET BACK ON OUR ROUTINE, GET THAT SLEEP SCHEDULE TOGETHER, TALK ABOUT THEIR WORRIES. DO THE MEET AND GREETS AT SCHOOL SO THAT NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT CLASSROOMS TO GO? NO WHAT TEACHERS FACES. GIVE THEM A MORE FAMILIAR. SO IT ALLEVIATES THEIR ANXIETY FOR THE NEW YEAR AND THEY CAN START OFF MORE PREPARED FRESH AND JUST BE ONLY WORRIED ABOUT HONESTLY SEEING THEIR FRIENDS AND GETTING READY THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THAT’S GREAT INFORMATION. NOT JUST THE KIDS, US MOMS AND DADS. WE’RE FEELING SOME STRESS RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO WE DO TO PREPARE SELVES? AND IT TAKES A TOLL ON US EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY AS WE’RE BUYING ALL THOSE BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES OF. YES. SO IT’S KNOWN THAT WE SPEND TOO MUCH ON CLOTHES AND NOTEBOOKS, PADS AND EVERYTHING. SO WHAT WE CAN DO? I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, THE PAST COULD BUDGETING, BUT ALSO RIGHT NOW THE COMMUNITY OFFERS SO MANY RESOURCES OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, BACK TO SCHOOL, WHICH WE’RE ALSO HOSTING RIGHT NOW. SO I MEAN, THERE’S JUST JUST A PLETHORA OF RESOURCES OUT THERE. AND THEN ALSO JUST KNOWING WHAT EXACTLY THERE’S A CHALLENGE. A LOT OF SCHOOLS ACTUALLY PROVIDE THOSE GOOGLE SERVICES. SO WE’RE REALLY TO YOU DON’T NEED SO MUCH LOOSELY PAPER MANY BINDERS GET THEM EXACTLY THEY NEED LISTEN TO THEM READ THE LISTS AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. DO THE BEST YOU CAN BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF. YEAH. AND THIS IS A TIME WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING TO SHOP BECAUSE IT IS THE FLORIDA TAX HOLIDAY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL. AND YOU MENTIONED ELITE DAYS ALSO DOING SOMETHING TO HELP OUT. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. YES. SO WE STARTED THIS DRIVE BACK ON JULY 1ST AND IT’S GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH JULY 31ST. SO MONDAY, THE LAST DAY TO DONATE. SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ASKING FOR THE LIST THAT THE EVEN GIVE NOTEBOOKS, BINDERS BUT ALSO, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE PARENTS OR JUST THOSE THAT FEEL OVERWHELMED IN THE STORE AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO GET, WE DO TAKE CASH DONATIONS AND GIFT CARDS. WE WILL TAKE STRESS OFF OF YOU AND GET THE SUPPLIES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS BECAUSE WE HAD A LEAD AND THEY BELIEVE THAT EVERY STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND ALSO TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. SO LET US BE THAT VILLAGE FOR YOUR KIDS. SHANTANU BEFORE WE GO HERE, SORT OF GIVE US THAT BACK TO SCHOOL, SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE IS A GOOD TAKE AWAY THAT THAT REALLY CAN HELP ALL AS WE ENTER THIS NEW SEASON. YES, I THINK HONEST REALLY MAKE THOSE CHECK INS WITH EACH OTHER. THIS IS THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER MORE. A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT. I LOVE TO TELL PATIENTS AND THEIR PARENTS DO AFFIRM. WRITE DOWN THOSE. YOU GOT THIS. YOU’RE BIGGER THAN THIS. YOU’VE DONE AMAZING. PUT THEM IN THE BINDERS. WE CAN USE THAT AT SCHOOL. WHILE WE’RE NERVOUS ABOUT HOW OUR KIDS ARE GOING. SURE. JUST A LOT OF VALIDATION. REASSURANCE. I LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU’
Watching mental health in the back-to-school season
Shantanique King from Elite DNA Behavioral Health breaks down why this season is so stressful for students and parents.
Updated: 10:17 AM EDT Jul 26, 2023
ORLANDO, Fla. – The first day of school can prompt a natural spike in nerves among children, and students may begin experiencing greater feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem as the school year approaches.A recent report released from the National Retail Federation indicates that households plan to spend an average of $890 on back-to-school items this year – a new record high! This is a challenging expense for many families, and first day of school jitters can be heightened when students also face uncertainty over school supplies, affecting their productivity and readiness to learn. To help combat this in the local community, Elite DNA Behavioral Health is collecting donations of school supplies at its offices in Maitland, Ocoee, Ormond Beach and Oviedo to benefit students in schools across Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties through the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Schools and Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools. This is part of a statewide collection effort happening the month of July at Elite DNA’s offices across the state. Elite DNA is calling on the community for support through donations of popular classroom items, including notebooks, college and wide-ruled paper, pocket folders, binders, pens, No. 2 and colored pencils, pink erasers, highlighters, pencil boxes, student scissors, glue sticks, wired headphones, sanitizing wipes and more. Cash donations and gift cards are also accepted for supplies to be purchased by Elite DNA staff.With Florida’s back-to-school tax-free holiday starting today, this topic is especially timely for those who may want to contribute to the final week of the back-to-school drive. In addition to the collection efforts, Elite DNA’s mental health experts can provide tips for parents and families to boost mental health throughout the final weeks of summer, keep children on track and how to help them prepare and talk to your kids about the upcoming school year. Mental Health America’s 2023 State of Mental Health in America reports that over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life. Yet, 59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Additionally, YouthTruth’s 2022 Emotional & Mental Health student survey notes that “depression, stress, and anxiety” is the most prevalent obstacle to learning for secondary students at every grade level, six through twelve.A proactive approach to mental health is critical heading into the school year. Some tips Elite DNA can cover may include: Maintaining a regular school-day routine before the first day of school Meeting teachers and going to orientation so that your kids know how to find their classrooms before the first day Talking with your children about any worries or anxieties Practicing healthy coping strategies Watching for concerning signs Seeking professional help when needed
ORLANDO, Fla. – The first day of school can prompt a natural spike in nerves among children, and students may begin experiencing greater feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem as the school year approaches.
A recent report released from the National Retail Federation indicates that households plan to spend an average of $890 on back-to-school items this year – a new record high! This is a challenging expense for many families, and first day of school jitters can be heightened when students also face uncertainty over school supplies, affecting their productivity and readiness to learn.
To help combat this in the local community, Elite DNA Behavioral Health is collecting donations of school supplies at its offices in Maitland, Ocoee, Ormond Beach and Oviedo to benefit students in schools across Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties through the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Schools and Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools. This is part of a statewide collection effort happening the month of July at Elite DNA’s offices across the state. Elite DNA is calling on the community for support through donations of popular classroom items, including notebooks, college and wide-ruled paper, pocket folders, binders, pens, No. 2 and colored pencils, pink erasers, highlighters, pencil boxes, student scissors, glue sticks, wired headphones, sanitizing wipes and more. Cash donations and gift cards are also accepted for supplies to be purchased by Elite DNA staff.
With Florida’s back-to-school tax-free holiday starting today, this topic is especially timely for those who may want to contribute to the final week of the back-to-school drive.
In addition to the collection efforts, Elite DNA’s mental health experts can provide tips for parents and families to boost mental health throughout the final weeks of summer, keep children on track and how to help them prepare and talk to your kids about the upcoming school year. Mental Health America’s 2023 State of Mental Health in America reports that over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life. Yet, 59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Additionally, YouthTruth’s 2022 Emotional & Mental Health student survey notes that “depression, stress, and anxiety” is the most prevalent obstacle to learning for secondary students at every grade level, six through twelve.
A proactive approach to mental health is critical heading into the school year. Some tips Elite DNA can cover may include:
- Maintaining a regular school-day routine before the first day of school
- Meeting teachers and going to orientation so that your kids know how to find their classrooms before the first day
- Talking with your children about any worries or anxieties
- Practicing healthy coping strategies
- Watching for concerning signs
- Seeking professional help when needed
