Opinion: Unmasking mental health support in school – The Cincinnati Enquirer
I sat with my son in the school cafeteria. Wearing masks, we waited to meet his kindergarten teacher. I asked him how he was feeling.
“Excited and scared at the same time,” he said.
I think that describes the back-to-school vibe quite well. Especially mid-pandemic with the many unknowns about new COVID-19 variants spreading across the U.S.
Mask debates have returned to school board meetings. Many districts are mandating masks for everyone in the classroom prompting the mental health cry of “these poor children” all over social media.
John Ackerman, is a child clinical psychologist and the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I asked for his perspective on the mental health concerns of going back-to-school. Ackerman said, “People ask about the emotional impact and psychological impacts of mask-wearing, but we first and foremost have to keep our communities and our kids healthy because there’s also a set of emotional impacts around being uncertain and insecure about your health and family’s health.”
Not to mention the trauma of having to lose someone to illness. I’m glad mental health is at the forefront of parents’ minds, because back-to-school topics have already been stressful for us this summer. Not only have parents had to deal with mask protocols during an ever-changing pandemic, but children under 12 are not yet cleared to get vaccinated and many adults still refuse.
We have also watched school districts mediate debates on critical race theory while state representatives propose CRT teaching bans. The Human Rights Campaign reports that 2021 has been the worst year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent history. At the high school level in my hometown, parents have spoken out against a student-run Gay Straight Alliance club.
These poor children, indeed.
“If you are pro-mental health of kids or pro-suicide prevention, then you should consider supporting policies that benefit youth mental health across the board,” Ackerman said. “Being pro-mental health can also mean adopting an anti-racism stance, using designated pronouns and supporting a school’s Gay Straight Alliance to name just a few strategies with known benefits. Policies that create opportunities for kids to be seen as valid for who they are is a critical step in improving emotional health outcomes and have clear mental health implications for all children. On the other hand, there is no reliable data showing that masks interfere with emotional or cognitive development.”
If we’re truly going to be pro-mental health, the first thing is to recognize that going back to school or reentering an academic environment can be stressful in itself. Even during “normal” times, “it can feel like a big change for some students,” Ackerman said. “Navigating social expectations, academic pressures and changes in routine can impact the whole family.”
Differing opinions are swirling around them, so kids should hear clear expectations from their parents. Ackerman suggests saying something like, “There’s uncertainty about where this pandemic is going and how this virus operates so we’re going to make it easy for you.” Then, lay out expectations for the day.
Also, take time to check-in with kids frequently and ask them about what’s concerning them. Don’t project your own concerns. Ask, listen and validate. Brainstorm solutions together. Also ask them what’s exciting about being back to school, because it’s likely a mixed bag.
For the majority of kids, being away from the structure and routines of school during the pandemic has been the hard part.
“School is a critical protective factor in mental health, especially when there are supportive adults or friendships,” said Ackerman.
If wearing masks gets kids safely back to school with peers and teachers for the long-term, then parents can show they are truly pro-mental health and support wearing masks so this can be done safely.
Bonnie Jean Feldkamp is a member of the Enquirer editorial board and media director for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Find her on social media @WriterBonnie or email her at Bonnie@WriterBonnie.com.
