2A
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
Put children’s mental health
first for new school year
Academy, offers a wide array of men-
tal health support for students in-
cluding social-emotional lessons, a
library of resources on the school's
website, and several certified trau-
ma-informed specialists on staff.
Angie Smith
Willamette Connections
Academy
Communication
Some students are excited about
the back-to-school season. But oth-
ers are nervous, especially if they ex-
perience anxiety or depression.
Educators are bracing for an in-
crease in students facing mental
health challenges this fall. Not only
because of pandemic disruptions of
the past year, but we are once again
filled with uncertainty due to ever-
changing guidelines.
Most families expected a return to
in-person classes, but the delta vari-
ant triggered mask mandates. State
education officials also notified
school districts they might need to
“pivot to remote learning” if CO-
VID-19 conditions don’t improve.
Experts say the pandemic has tak-
en a toll on the mental health of many
children – causing stress, depression
and anxiety after experiencing trau-
ma, grief and separation from peers.
It could be difficult for kids to re-
turn to school after an unstable year.
Even before COVID-19, the number
of children with mental health disor-
ders was increasing, and the pan-
demic only made things worse. In a
national Connections Academy sur-
vey, 66% of parents said their teens
continued to feel anxious or de-
pressed.
School counselors like myself urge
parents to put mental health first as
children head back to class. Families
can provide support and strategies to
help students' mental health during
the transition to the new school year.
Plan ahead
Some children have difficulty talk-
ing about their feelings, so symptoms
of depression and anxiety can mani-
fest themselves physically.
If your student has chronic stom-
ach aches and headaches, it might be
a sign that they need help.
Research what mental health ser-
vices are available at your child’s
school. Our full-time online public
school,
Willamette
Connections
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Parents can keep the lines of com-
munication open by talking to kids
about any uncomfortable feelings
they have about returning to school.
Parents should listen to their
child’s concerns, and validate their
feelings. By working on solutions to-
gether as a family, it lets students
know they can talk to you and ask
questions anytime.
Children will likely hear informa-
tion about masks and vaccines so
have a plan in place to give direct,
age-appropriate feedback.
Returning routines
Establishing routines is important
for a child’s mental health as they re-
turn to classes, and families can pro-
vide the structure and consistency
kids need during these unpredictable
times.
A daily routine that incorporates
plenty of sleep, healthy nutrition and
exercise is essential. If families start
practicing bedtime and morning rou-
tines before school starts, students
will adjust faster and they’ll experi-
ence less impact on their emotional
wellbeing.
Coping skills
Families can help children manage
anxiety and depression by giving
their students a healthy outlet to ex-
press their emotions.
This can include physical activ-
ities like walks or bike rides. Other
tools include listening to music,
crafts, or journaling.
Model mental health
Children often pick up on how the
adults in their life are feeling so it’s
helpful for parents to model healthy
stress management.
If parents feel overwhelmed, be
honest and share that with children.
It can validate kids’ feelings and open
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“Even before COVID-19, the number
of children with mental health
disorders was increasing, and the
pandemic only made things worse. In
a national Connections Academy
survey, 66% of parents said their
teens continued to feel anxious or
depressed.”
a discussion on coping techniques.
Students can only benefit when
parents take care of their own anxi-
ety and similar issues.
Professional support
Parents who feel their student’s
back-to-school depression or anxiety
is escalating or could be tied to some-
thing more serious should contact
their pediatrician or therapist.
Make sure to contact the counsel-
ors and teachers at your school so you
are all working toward the same
goals.
Parents, teachers and mental
health specialists across Oregon are
trying to ease the return to school
with enhanced support and services.
While our online school may not
encounter the same logistical chal-
lenges as the brick-and-mortar
schools, the counselors and teachers
at Willamette Connections Academy
are just as concerned about students
navigating the return to classes and
their mental wellness.
Starting this new school year, like
many significant life adjustments,
offers children opportunities for so-
cial and emotional growth. Being pa-
tient, respecting everyone’s feelings
and being kind to others can go a long
way in helping students navigate this
time in their life.
The back-to-school season might
not be as easy as pre-pandemic
years, but hopefully families will stay
positive and continue to heal togeth-
er.
Smith is the Willamette Connec-
tions Academy manager of counsel-
ing services. Willamette Connections
Academy is now enrolling for the
2021-22 academic year. To learn more
about the school or to begin the en-
rollment process visit www.Willa-
metteConnectionsAcademy.com or
call 888-478-9474.
The
top
10
underlying
A
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T
Q
Y
A
!
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O
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ILT. K
conditions of Oregonians
dying of COVID-19
Alia Beard Rau
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
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More than 2,900 Oregonians have died
from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Nearly all of them — 92% — have had un-
derlying conditions.
Here are the top 10 deadliest conditions,
according to the Oregon Health Authority:
h Cardiovascular: 51% of deaths.
h Neurological conditions*: 32%.
h Other chronic illnesses: 29%
h Diabetes: 28%
h Chronic lung disease: 23%
h Kidney disease: 21%
h Obesity: 14%
h Former smoker: 13%
h Immunocompromised condition: 8%
h Liver disease: 4%
h Current smoker: 3%
*Neurological conditions include cere-
bral palsy, stroke, chronic mental illness,
intellectual disabilities, multiple sclerosis,
seizure disorders and Parkinson's disease,
among others.
The total of percentages exceeds 100%
because some individuals may have had
more than one underlying condition. The
median length of illness for those who have
died is 14 days.
Of those who have died as of the week of
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HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL
h 1,458 were age 80 or older.
h 704 were age 70-79.
h 456 were age 60-69.
h 206 were age 50-59.
h 81 were 40-49. Just under a quarter of
those have occurred since May.
h 29 were 30-39. About a third of those
have occurred since May.
h 15 were 29 or younger. More than half
of those have occurred since May.
Alia Beard Rau is the senior news editor
for the Salem Statesman Journal. Reach
her at raua@gannett.com. Follow her on
Twitter @aliarau.
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A crowd of mostly home care workers
observes a moment of silence in front of
the number of people that have died from
COVID-19 in Oregon during a candle-lit
vigil, held by Oregon care providers for the
more than 160,000 people who have died in
long-term facilities this past year, at the
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MARION COUNTY
Arby’s #6906
Location: 4990 Commercial St. SE, Sa-
lem
Date: July 27
Score: 100
No priority violations
Hong Thai Express
Location: 4155 Ricky St. SE, Salem
Date: July 28
Score: 87
Priority violations:
Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially
hazardous food has not been consumed
within the required time period or is not
properly date-marked, specifically:
Observed sticky rice and curry dated
July 21 in the walk-in. Point deduction
5.
The chlorine sanitizer concentration,
pH, or temperature is not adequate,
specifically: Wiping cloth bucket on the
cook line used to sanitize as the third
step of cleaning measured at 10 ppm
chlorine. Point deduction 5.
A handwashing sink is not accessible for
employee use at all times, is used for
purposes other than handwashing or is
not operated properly, specifically:
Handwashing sink in the back near the
food prep sink is blocked by dolly and
crates. Point deduction 3.
Bill Poehler covers Marion County for
the Statesman Journal. Contact him at
bpoehler@statesmanjournal.com or
Twitter.com/bpoehler