For the first time in two years, the school year has progressed as eventfully as the previous ones. Although without the upheaval of remote school or masks, students, teachers, and parents endured continued pandemic vigilance through testing and quarantine. These immediate pandemic effects and lingering ones continue to affect the mental wellness of children and their caretakers. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have been on the rise during the pandemic and affect as many as one in six children (ages 6-17) in the United States.
A recent LifeStance Survey of 2,000 American parents found that a solid majority (68%) report that their children continue to face significant mental and emotional challenges this year, even as the most urgent signs of the pandemic recedes. Top stressors include readjusting to school and social performance like making friends. Additionally, almost a third of parents have moved during the pandemic, exacerbating academic and social pressure for kids.