![]() “Carve out time to check-in and encourage children and teens in your life to have those conversations about how they are feeling returning to school.” “During these unprecedented times, parents, teachers and other caring adults can help make this transition as easy as possible for teens by maintaining an open dialogue,” said Jennifer Christian-Herman, Ph.D., executive director of Behavioral Health at Blue Shield of California. Even among students who said their schools offered mental health support, 22% of those respondents think they could be more helpful. To be successful, teens report they are looking for more teacher support with schoolwork, flexibility to learn, and support for mental health. Both groups had similar results about discussing mental health with their friends (55% versus 51%). BIPOC teens were less likely to discuss their mental health with their parents than white teens (36% versus 59%).53% of BIPOC teens are concerned about coping with racial justice issues when returning to school.There were notable responses from BIPOC youth. The more we can all learn to listen and respond to each other with empathy and understanding, the more we can promote better outcomes for our youth.” “In our BlueSky initiative, we’ve seen tremendous success when we train a spectrum of individuals – including teens, educators, parents and caring adults – on how to spot warning signs and provide care. “This data speaks to the importance of mental health training for everyone – not just professional therapists and behavioral health providers,” Bond said. 18% turned to a professional counselor or therapist.54% talked about their mental health with a friend.The good news is young people are reaching out and discussing their mental health: That number dropped to 46% between March 2020 and June 2021, while COVID restrictions were also in effect, and has slightly rebounded since they were lifted in June (54%). Sixty-three percent said they were in excellent or good mental health before the pandemic. ![]() Teens surveyed were asked to gauge their mental health at different points in time – before the COVID-19 pandemic, during its height (March 2020 – June 2021), and since the state reopened on June 15. Pandemic takes a toll on mental health – and youth are talking about It “The constant uncertainty and intangible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will persist – and being there to support the well-being of our youth is critical.” “This back-to-school time will require an acute focus from parents, educators and caring adults on both the academic and social success of teens,” said David Bond, LCSW, director of Behavioral Health for Blue Shield of California. One bright spot in the report is that students say they are speaking up about their concerns and discussing their mental health with others, demonstrating important help-seeking behavior. The poll is part of Blue Shield’s BlueSky initiative, the nonprofit health plan’s multi-year effort to support youth mental health including online and on-campus mental health services and supporting educator training on student mental health. The survey conducted July 26 - August 5, 2021, asked 500 middle- and high-school students in California (ages 13-18) to reflect on their mental health before and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as they head back to the classroom. Worries about academic achievement (79%) and socializing with friends (59%) are also among the top concerns for California teens.
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