With September upon us, Back To School season has begun. Many young people are preparing to return to their studies, as well as many parents getting ready to return to work after the six weeks holiday. But something that is not often talked about during this period is mental health, and how some may dread returning to school or work due to the impact this may have on their own mental wellbeing.
Mental health issues in schools are especially prominent, with a NHS Digital report finding that 14.4% of primary school children suffered from probable mental health issues in 2020, and 17.6% of secondary school children suffered from probable mental health issues. Furthermore, during 2020/21, the Health And Safety Executive found that 2,480 per 100,000 workers suffered from some form of work-related stress or anxiety.
So, what causes this, and what can be done to help?
Why Does This Happen?
There are a number of reasons why people may feel stressed about returning to school or work. Whilst these are important parts of daily life, they can also be major stressors that negatively impact on their mental health. A few of these reasons are:
- A lack of understanding. Some schools, universities or workplaces may not understand mental health problems, and as such their practices may be intolerant to people who suffer from pre-existing mental health conditions. A NHS Digital Study found that 37.4% of children aged between 5-16 with probable mental health issues did not receive regular support from their school or college.
- Social Issues & Isolation. Like in all situations, work and school can be a source of negative social interactions, and both often suffer from issues of bullying within the work or school environment, with the Trades Union Congress finding that 29% of people feel bullied at work.
- Workload stress. Unfortunately for many people, they can find themselves feeling swamped by the amount of work they have to do.
- Shifting Schedules. Especially with the return from the six weeks holiday, people can struggle in the sudden shift in schedule, leading them to feel more exhausted than usual as they adapt to their new daily routine.
Our Tips To Help
Thankfully, there are a few ways to help manage your mental health during this period.
Firstly, be open about your mental health issues. Mental health problems are, unfortunately, still heavily stigmatised, especially in school or work environments.The first step in destigmatising important issues is to talk about it! Speak with your school or workplace counsellor or advisor about your struggles, and see if there is anything they can do to support you.
Secondly, learn how to manage your time efficiently. Breaking up workloads into smaller segments can help you feel less stressed about the amount of work you have to do. For those with conditions that may affect their time management skills, discuss with your school or workplace about reasonable adjustments that can be made about deadlines or workloads to help you feel less swamped.
Finally, take time to be kind to yourself. Practice wellness techniques and take breaks when possible to help yourself recharge from high stress situations. It is important to take time to care for yourself and your physical and mental wellbeing, as this can ultimately help you destress.
Final Thoughts
Whilst mental health is unfortunately still stigmatised, and this back to school and work period can be a large cause of stress and anxiety, there are measures that you can take to help to ease yourself back into school or work, and minimise your stress whilst working or studying. It is important to be open with your school or employer about your mental health, especially if you already suffer from mental health problems prior to resuming work or study, as well as being kind to yourself and taking measures to manage your time effectively to help maintain your mental health.
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