Do you ever feel like it’s all just too much, and as a result, you need to take a mental health day?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Feeling overwhelmed and anxious is not just confined to adults; kids can feel it, too. So, is there such a thing as a child’s mental health day?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The answer is yes, but the key for parents is knowing why and when they need that day off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Between school, sports, extracurricular activities, and whatever else they may be into, it’s not a stretch for your child to be stretched too thin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Absolutely, kids can burn out just like adults can,” said Allegheny Health Network’s Dr. Gary Swanson, a child psychiatrist. “I think it’s important for the parents to know what is going on, what might be stressing the child out.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
They’re young, sure, but don’t assume that youthful energy means they can handle it. Dr. Swanson encouraged parents to be vigilant, and if it’s not entirely obvious, don’t hesitate to do a little digging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s possible there is something going on,” he said. “I’ve got homework I didn’t do; could there be a bully picking on them at school, or something happening on social media, and a kid is embarrassed about that.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Swanson said a mental health day for a child can help because it gives them a bit of a break to rest and recuperate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cleveland Clinic child psychologist Dr. Emily Mudd agrees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We absolutely need to take children’s emotional well-being seriously, first and foremost,” Dr. Mudd said. “Mental health days in general can be used effectively.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Effectively, however, means not using them solely for avoidance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“When you’re really anxious about something, avoiding isn’t always the best response,” Dr. Swanson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“This can be a really tricky pattern for a lot of families to get stuck in,” Dr. Mudd added. “The longer we avoid school, the harder it is to go back.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, the doctors said to use the day, but not just for TV and video games.<\/p>\n
“If you’re anxious about something, you’ve got to come up with a plan to deal with it, because whatever it is that’s making you anxious might be there the next day,” Dr. Swanson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don’t expect your child to tell you they need a mental health day; it’s more likely to surface as a physical problem like a stomachache, but if it happens repeatedly, there could be something else going on.\u00a0<\/p>\n