CLEVELAND — Kids need more than just supplies and new clothes when heading back to school; experts say parents need to keep tabs on their mental health, too.
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Emergency Nurses Association called for communities to increase access to mental health services for younger people before emergency care is needed. The request comes after studies show emergency room use for mental health crises in young people went up five fold in the last decade.
A year ago, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended pediatricians screen children as young as 8 for anxiety and kids as young as 12 for depression during their regular well checks.
Dr. Joseph Austerman is a pediatric psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital and says the first resource is the child's pediatrician, but also says it's important for parents to notice changes and talk to their kids before the issues become a crisis. He adds parents should know they can team up with their child's school for help.
"I don't think that parents are being educated enough," Austerman told 3News. "It's actually a state mandate now that schools have mental health services in them, and as a parent, I didn't know about this. Only professionally did I find this out, but schools have a mandate to help with mental health as part as of the education and they're mandated to help educate kids about mental health."
Changes to watch for can be physical in younger kids — they may routinely complain of stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. More often, that can be a side effect of stress and anxiety.
Behavioral changes go beyond traditional teen angst, and must be seriously considered.
"Sometimes there can be warning signs — when you see a significant change in behavior, when you see an increase isolation, irritability, change in sleep, changes in their eating — and nd sometimes kids come out as angry when they're really depressed," Austerman explained. "Sometimes it is sadness and just isolation. Any time that you see these changes, engage your child. Don't be afraid to talk about mental health and suicide."
Also, discuss emotions with kids early, and engage with them to share details.
"Don't just ask, 'How was your day?' [and] what the worst and best part of their day was," Austerman said. "Ask them things that lead to conversations."
You can see more of Dr. Austerman's interview on WKYC+'s "Prescription for Life" on Aug. 30.