Jamie Freeny, director of School Behavioral Health at the Mental Health America of Greater Houston, says a virtual learning environment can cause anxiety in students. | File Photo
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued through August, an estimated 63% of the youth in Harris and Fort Bend counties and the city of Houston, along with 50% of parents, were at risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties, according to the Mental Health America of Greater Houston.
“There's been a huge increase in parents seeking answers because they are concerned about their child's behavior,” Jamie Freeny, director of School Behavioral Health at the Mental Health America of Greater Houston, said.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, more than 1 million cases have been reported in the state, and more than 19,300 Texans have died.
“During this time developmentally, children are in a critical period when they're developing social skills, emotion regulation and learning how to build relationships with peers and with adults outside of their family,” Freeny told Education Daily Wire. "Being in this virtual environment really hinders that and can cause a lot of anxiety and adjustment disorder-like behaviors.”
As previously reported by the Lone Star Standard, public schools closed their buildings for approximately six months due to the pandemic.
“Virtual learning doesn’t allow students to connect, share ideas or help each other and it prevents nonverbal communication,” Freeny said. “They may be concerned with their environment, how their home looks, they may be embarrassed about how they live and may not want to share that with others. There also is stress with having interruptions or disruptions. Other siblings may be around. There could be parents working from home.”
Although most Texas schools reopened in August, concerns about mental health haven’t subsided, according to media reports.
“Clinicians are still reporting an increase in calls from concerned parents even though students are back in school,” Freeny said in an interview. "It's not only around the pandemic. There are also concerns about injustice. When some of the high school students returned to class, they shared disappointment that their school hadn't addressed George Floyd or racial inequality because they had been so focused on the pandemic."
Attending classes in school may alleviate at least some mental health stressors.
“The structure, repetition, and routine is crucial to helping students feel safe and calm,” Freeny added.
Signs that children and teens might be struggling to maintain mental health include agitation, isolating themselves and complaining of physical symptoms, such as headache or stomach ache.
Helping can be as simple as acknowledging the individual and showing concern.
“Don't dismiss it,” Freeny said. “Don't put it off. Don't ignore it. Offer to help. Know what resources are available and be willing to utilize them. Don’t just give the parent a phone number to a resource. Follow up and offer to be on the call. Walk them through the process and offer ongoing support.”
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