What is back-to-school anxiety? 

Child and adolescent therapist Grace Berman explains to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America that anytime we are out of routine, it can feel as though we’re avoiding some amount of discomfort. For many children, this discomfort is being in school and experiencing the need to socialize with more people, navigate peer pressure, and deal with academic pressure. 

“Change is hard and going back to school involves some amount of change — and the lead up to the change is the hardest,” she adds. 

Even for children who have navigated back-to-school season before, it’s a time of year when complex emotions can emerge to the surface. Brushing these feelings off as simple jitters or as a sign of weakness is far from the right thing to do. On the contrary, it’s important that parents and educators address these feelings of anxiety head-on and work with children to get to the root of the problem. 

Is their anxiety caused by external factors or internal difficulties in processing the environment around them?

Are there healthy coping mechanisms and routines that children should engage in before school starts to help them manage this season better? 

We hope this blog serves as a resource for parents, educators, and even students to check in on each other and be transparent about what back-to-school season means from a mental health perspective.  

What causes back-to-school anxiety? 

Back-to-school anxiety is more than just ‘not wanting to go to school.’ As Berman explains, it’s often caused by chance. Sometimes, we forget just how much can change for a student every time they head back to school for the year. Here are a few common causes children feel anxiety, discomfort, and fear at this time of year: 

• The pressure of schoolwork: For students who struggle to keep up with their school curriculum, back-to-school season can remind them of their shortcomings and burden them with the pressure of meeting the expectations of others. 

• Unfamiliarity with new curriculums, classmates, and teachers: If a child feels more comfortable with routine and familiar sights, sounds, and people, then a new school year can be a very overstimulating environment. 

• Having to make new friends: Children are forced to face unfamiliar social dynamics and put themselves out there to create new bonds, which can be difficult for those who are more introverted or weary of others. 

• Navigating peer pressure and social expectations: The bonds created during school carry a lot of weight in a student’s day-to-day interactions. Maintaining these bonds can pressure children to conform to what others say, even if it's against their values and comfort levels. 

• Separation anxiety from family and caretakers: Some children feel more discomfort when away from the people they recognize as their home base. Being away from family and caretakers can make school feel like an unstable and unsafe environment. 

• Low self-esteem: Navigating all of the causes listed above often require students to have self-confidence to stand alongside their peers. A lack of self-esteem can cause children to compare themselves with others incessantly and increase their anxiety levels. 

• Existing mental health conditions: If a student has a pre-existing mental health disorder, approach back-to-school season with care and abundant preparation. Introducing children back into an overstimulating environment requires parents and educators to work together to ensure that a child has all the resources they need to cope with unpredictable stress and reach out for help when needed. 

When to turn to your school’s mental health services

The most common diagnoses of mental health disorders in children are ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. 

If a child is dealing with more serious symptoms, parents and caretakers can reach out to a professional in the school to discuss next steps.

Recent research on the state of school-based mental health services in the US discovered that 96% of public schools offer at least one of the following mental health services:

• Individual counseling (84%)

• Case management (70%)

• Referrals for external care (66%)

• Mental health screenings (34%)

Although parents and educators at US public schools tend to navigate similar barriers regarding the shortage of mental health professionals and a lack of funding for mental health programs, there are recent policy efforts aimed at better equipping schools with the right care — like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

Common signs of back-to-school anxiety 

A student might be feeling anxiety if they experience these symptoms in the days and weeks leading up to their back-to-school day:

1. Physical symptoms: stomachaches, nail-biting, fatigue, headaches

2. Behavioral changes: irritability, clinginess, withdrawal from social activities

3. Emotional responses: excessive worry, crying, mood swings

4. Sleep disturbances: trouble falling asleep, frequent nightmares

My Good Brain’s Back-to-School Anxiety Tool Kit

To help ease students into this transition and promote well-being during back-to-school season, My Good Brain has compiled a range of activities and resources designed to help students, parents, and eductors address back-to-school anxiety. 

Our tips for managing this complex time of year? Here are a few you can start with: 

• Set clear and realistic expectations: 

• Get back into a routine well before school begins again: 

• Find fun activities to do during the back-to-school transition: 

• Openly communicate about any anxiety and discomfort: 

• Celebrate small achievements: 

• Discuss coping strategies and relaxation exercises to help navigate difficult situations: 

• Talk to school mental health professionals: 

Check out our interactive resources to guide you through these tips, engage in creative activities, and build an empowering start to your school year!