Primary Children’s says ‘mental health toolkit’ should be part of back-to-school preparations

SALT LAKE CITY — Going back to school causes feelings of anxiety — and that’s normal, according to Amanda Choudhary with Primary Children’s Hospital.

“It’s important for families to talk with their children about their feelings, what to expect, and set routines to help them transition to the school year,” she in a news release Wednesday.

Choudhary, director of pediatric behavioral health at Primary Children’s, says the number of children needing mental health treatment typically goes up as school starts each year. She said the hospital wants to help parents recognize when their child needs help, and know where to go for that help ahead of time.

“We don’t need to wait until a crisis strikes. Help is available — and more help is on the way,” she said.

In Utah, suicide is a leading cause of death for youth. Primary Children’s officials say 43% of Utah youth who reported feeling sad or suicidal said they did not talk to anyone about it.

With that information in mind, Intermountain Health recommends parents include creating a “mental health toolkit” along with other back-to-school preparations this year. The toolkit they suggest includes steps to prepare children for school, distress signs for parents to watch for, and a list of available resources to find help.

Preparation suggestions include:

• Develop routines that take into account meals, sleep schedules and time spent on electronics.
• Show enthusiasm about school, which could include leaving notes in a child’s backpack.
• Visit the school, walk to the bus stop and talk about the process for returning home in advance.
• Validate children’s feelings and talk about what helps them feel calm.

The signs of distress the hospital wants parents to be aware of are changes in behavior, mood or eating habits; inability to cope or recover from a hard day or a child being inconsolable; or consistently struggling and rough days happening multiple times a week.

Primary Children’s recommends having information about mental health resources on hand. The hospital has a Talk to Tweens program available in both English and Spanish. There is also a free consultation service through Primary Children’s, called ARCS, that can connect families with children’s mental health services.

Emergency resources are available through the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, the SafeUT App and crisis line, emergency departments at Primary Children’s Hospitals in both Lehi and Salt Lake City and other hospital emergency rooms.

Intermountain Health is expanding mental health treatment for children and teenagers with a new Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville, which will open next year. It is being built at the same location as the current health center but will be able to treat more patients in a family-centered way.