CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago Public Schools students go back to class on Aug. 18. There will be lots of smiling and first-day-of-school pictures.
And for many children, there is a lot of anxiety about things such as academic pressures and making friends.
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A 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that emergency department visits by children ages 10 to 17 for mental and behavioral health conditions increased an average of 54%, between summer and fall. That study looked at the years 2018 to 2023.
“A lot of what I see in the teenagers is more social anxiety and the kind of generalized worry patterns,” said Lurie Children’s Hospital Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Dr. John Walkup. “And so, the socially anxious kids are worried about making friends and fitting in. And the generalized worriers are worried about performance and kind of doing OK and feeling that pressure. The vast majority of kids do great though. They’re excited about it. They kind of have this anxious anticipation, which is just perfectly appropriate.”
Walking into a classroom can be a social situation where some children feel anxious, said Dr. Alexandria Holliday, a doctor of adolescent medicine at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
“Where your friends may not be there, seeing that new teacher, even attending parties like homecoming, prom, they can be overwhelmed with anxiety. They feel like they’re on an island by themselves, even though they may be surrounded by their peers,” Holliday said.
Walkup says children often mask those feelings.
For many children, there is a lot of anxiety about things such as academic pressures and making friends.
“And they hedge all the time. But I think the thing that’s kind of most important is for parents to understand that there’s a certain amount of anxiety that’s expectable and proportional, really depending on their coping skills and the situation they’re in. But the kids we’re talking about, they’re just so uncomfortable in basic social situations that most kids really enjoy and have a good time,” Walkup said.
Walkup says for these children, anxiety isn’t just something they experience at back-to-school time; it’s all the time.
Anxiety may cause some children to resist going to school, saying they’re not feeling well.
Holliday says parents should always validate their child’s feelings and their emotions.
“So, acknowledge they may be having those symptoms. Those physical complaints. But the ultimate goal would be to get them to school,” Holliday said.
Holliday says parents may want to consult with the school counselor and school nurse to discuss what their child is experiencing so they can help, as well.
“And if it gets to the point where those interventions are not working, then definitely seeking out a mental health professional,” Holliday said.
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