Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Ali Hamza
The preparation for the new school year can be overwhelming for parents who feel pressure to ensure that their child has necessary uniforms and other essentials.
For a child who is who is struggling to speak and a return to classroom(opens in a new tab) following the summer vacations could be more challenging.
A lot of school-aged children are afflicted with dread of going back to school. It’s so overwhelming that if unresolved, it could result in the child suicide(opens in a new tab).
What’s happening on social media might be a good start to discover what is important to children. And while discussing your mental wellbeing isn’t nearly as common these days as it was the past however, there’s much to be done.
TikTok and Twitter has teens and pre-teens discussing the ‘back to school necklace’. And even though at first glance parents may think it’s just another necessity, it has a more serious significance that shouldn’t be ignored since discussing it could save the life of a child.
What’s the ‘back-to school necklace”?
Urban Dictionary – a website that focuses on defining new slang terms – describes, “A back to school necklace is a different name for the noose. This is because of the overwhelming sadness you feel at the start of school returning. ‘
One user on Twitter posted the photo with a caption that reads”Currently making my back-to-school necklace ! ‘
And for some kids that pressure, whether due to schoolwork, their friends or their family life is frequently too much to bear with.
It also revealed that nearly one-in-four of them have suffered self-harm in the last year. Experts believe that the number could increase because of the epidemic.
Dr. Malie Coyne, a Clinical psychologist and the writer of “Love in and Love Out: A loving method of managing your child’s anxiety(opens in a new tab) Dr. Malie Coyne was stunned to discover the latest trend.
“The trend of the “back-to-school necklace” was a shock to me as I have a near-eight and a near 10-year-old daughter. However, I believe it’s crucial for parents to use the ability to talk about feelings at home, where emotions are discussed and acknowledged. However, parents must be encouraging their children to discuss their feelings in order in all aspects – not just returning in the school.’
Then, she said, ‘If you’re worried about the back-to school necklace trend , you can say , ‘I’ve seen this trend in the newspaper Have you been aware of it?’ But you shouldn’t discuss the specific issue unless you’re worried regarding your kid. If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, speaking to them about this won’t lead to suicide.’
However, Doctor. Coyne explained the importance of using the right method. She explained, “When your child tells you about something rather than gloss over it or to distract away from it, really validate their feeling and say ‘that sounds like it was really difficult for you today.'”
And she offered suggestions on how to speak with your children regarding their health, if they’re not forthcoming about their emotions, yet you’ve observed warning indications. “If you feel that they might be anxious about going back to school or depressed or low, you can say to your child ‘I’ve noticed that you’ve been a little bit different lately or that you’ve been spending more time in your room. Tell them what you’ve noticed, rather than in an accusatory way ‘you’ve been doing this’.”
She also pointed out that parents are more likely to sub-parent over the age of 10 and over-parent the younger ones which is why an alternative approach is required for all ages. Doctor. Coyne explained, “When teens tell us to “Go away’, it does not always mean they’re asking to be left alone. They could be experiencing a difficult day and we must assure them that we are not leaving them alone and keep track of them frequently. It is possible to say “You’d prefer to be on your own for a short time, which is fine . I’ll check in later since you’re probably finding difficult today” and do check-in. Keep checking in. They need you now as much as they ever did, maybe even more. Teens tend to be better at side-to-side communication on walks or in the car, and brief chats rather than lengthy ones.”
How do you tell the signs that a child is suffering from mental illness?
The Dr. Coyne listed her key indicators that indicate children are not being heard:
Any kind of change in the communication of a child is it that they are avoiding social interaction? or being more in their rooms , than they did previously?
Do they really want to be in their own at all times?
Are they in front of screens a lot?
Mood fluctuates.
Drinking alcohol or using the use of alcohol.
The feeling of despair.
Doing not take part in activities that they once did.
Unhappy with life.
Are their sleeping or eating routine not in out of
They may be engaging in risky behavior or even donating their possessions or even saying ‘I won’t ever be around for long’.
You may also be checking for indicators of self-harm.
Use your intuition to guide you.
