Students will return to the classroom in a few short weeks, but experts urge for youth to be gradually reintegrated into the community.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will release guidelines on the 2021-2022 school year by the end of the week.
“I think there needs to be some allowance for what children will be feeling in the Fall as they enter back into the school system,” said Christa Baldwin, the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick.
Although the pandemic landscape has changed vastly since Fall 2020, concerns over a new wave of COVID-19 are growing and for youth under the age of 12, receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is not an option.
“There are concerns for children returning to the classroom, and I think we’ll have to continue to monitor what happens with the fourth wave and what this looks like for New Brunswick,” said Baldwin.
She believes it’s important to acknowledge that kids have stress too.
“We need to have meaningful conversations with children around the feelings they may be having with anxiety, sadness, isolation.”
If these feelings arise, Baldwin says there may be concerning patterns.
“When their mental health negatively impacts their behaviour so if there’s nonstop worrying, if there’s avoidance of regular tasks or things people enjoy,” she said.
“If someone is not sleeping well, if their ability to make decisions or focus is impacted, if there’s a concern with their appetite or hygiene routine.”
However, a return to school will be an unfamiliar setting for all parties involved, including teachers. “I think there is also a real pressure on teachers, there’s a lot for teachers to deal with, and I hope the department of education has implemented appropriate supports for them at this difficult time,” she said.
Baldwin hopes continuing these tough conversations will destigmatize mental health so it can be discussed in the same manner as physical health.
