Fraser Health offers Surrey students tips for back-to-school anxiety

Fraser Health has issued advice for Surrey students, parents and caregivers to help ease anxiety about returning to school on Sept. 8. The health authority said a new school year can bring excitement and anticipation, but can also cause anxiety for some children and youth.

The authority is encouraging parents and caregivers to recognize signs of back-to-school anxiety and support children as they adjust to new routines, relationships and expectations. Nelam Sall, program lead for Integrated Child and Youth, Mental Health and Substance Use Services at Fraser Health, said nervousness about returning to school is normal, particularly when children and youth face something new or uncertain.

Sall said students of all ages can be affected. Some may worry about making friends or fitting in, while others may be concerned about schoolwork, starting at a new school or not knowing what to expect.

She said parents and caregivers can begin by asking children what worries them and listening carefully. Talking through worries together can help a child feel more prepared and supported.

Anxiety does not always appear as worry in children, Sall said. It can also show up as trouble sleeping, increased irritability, headaches or stomach aches, mood or behaviour changes, or avoiding conversations or activities related to school.

Fraser Health recommends gradually returning to regular sleep, meal and morning routines before school begins. It also suggests discussing what the first day or week may look like, especially for students entering a new school or adjusting to a significant change; asking open-ended questions about what they are looking forward to and what concerns them; and validating their feelings rather than immediately reassuring them or telling them not to worry.

Parents and caregivers can also remind children of challenges they have handled successfully, discuss strategies they can use when feeling overwhelmed, and help them identify people they can turn to at home and school. If a child says they are scared or do not want to attend school, Sall said adults should acknowledge those feelings, try to understand the source of the concern and work through it step by step.

For many students, nervousness eases once school starts and they settle into a routine, she said. But families should seek additional support if anxiety does not ease, becomes more intense or begins to interfere with school, relationships or everyday life. More information about child and youth mental health and available supports is available at fraserhealth.ca/youthmentalhealth.