Changing the Narrative around Mental Health - - Archived

What are some of the negative effects you’re still seeing because of the COVID year?

We’re seeing more social anxiety in kids leading to school truancy. This is very much related to the impacts of the COVID shutdown and kids doing school online for a time and then having to reintegrate into an in-person setting. It’s been challenging for some kids. They’re experiencing increased anxiety and depression as they try to “belong” back in that environment. For many, the response has been just not going to school.

Why not simply return to online schooling, if in-person is so stressful for them?

That depends on the child. We do recommend an online option for some kids who learn better in an independent setting and with a self-paced model. But others are using it to avoid social interaction. In those situations, we encourage intensive outpatient (IOP) or partial hospitalization (PHP) where they’re with us all day but return home at night. The smaller setting can help them transition back into their usual school environment. One good thing COVID left us with is differing versions of homeschooling, including hybrid options where some of the schooling is in person and some is online. It also depends on how far behind they got while they were truant, but most will be able to catch up easily enough.

What are the benefits of group therapy?

A group setting is impactful, especially for adolescents. Being surrounded by people who are experiencing the same things they are removes the stigma which may have been preventing them from getting help. Once they’re in a group with others around their own age, they’re able to receive feedback from people who are in the same stage of life as they are. While the therapist is there to lead the conversation, participants often take to heart what their peers say more than what an adult might say.

How do kids stay on track with school while in your IOP or PHP program?

Parents worry their kids will fall behind in school. Sometimes we have to have difficult conversations to help them realize, while education is important, we need to focus on their child’s emotions right now. That can be hard for parents to understand at first. We’re still actively changing the narrative around
mental health.

Connections Wellness Group has an accredited school program through Cognia for all active patients, which is unique for an outpatient mental health facility. Patients have the option of enrolling in our accredited school and completing our curriculum, or they can stay enrolled in their school and bring their schoolwork to complete on our campus during the day.

What about students who have already fallen behind?

With the one-on-one attention we can give, they usually have no problem catching up. But we’re offering a summer school course for credit recovery for patients who’ve fallen behind in school. They will be able to use the summer months to make up the credits they missed while they were truant.