Why It Makes Sense to Focus on Mental Health in the Summer

Jul 5

By Gary Regan, LICSW

Summer can be a fun time for children and teens as they end their school year, look forward to summer vacations, and spend more time with family and friends.

However, for children and teens struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, summer can also be a good time for them to receive the help they need.

School Related-Stressors

September through June, teens are faced with school-related stressors: time management, grades, studying and peer relationships. If a teen is struggling to go to school, their avoidant behaviors, driven by depression and anxiety, indicate to parents that their child may need more support. A teen who should be waking to go to school but doesn’t raises concerns. A teen sleeping late during the summer is often dismissed as a typical teenager.

Summer is An Ideal Time to Address Mental Health

In reality though, the sun being out doesn’t mean that mental health challenges disappear. The good news is that summer can be an ideal time to address mental health challenges and set your teen up for success over the year ahead. Bradley’s PHP, IOP and specialist programs for substance use are all available year round. Many programs offer virtual and in-person options (for families in Rhode Island and the surrounding area) meaning families can choose what works best for their needs. Often summer waitlists are shorter, making it easier to get care when you need it.

Attending an intensive mental health program during the summer also means that teens don’t have to miss school to participate, reducing any concern about the impact of time out of school on grades and schoolwork. It also means teens have space to work through concerns about the upcoming school year proactively.

Summer Mental Health Makes For A Smoother School Transition

We know that mental health affects school attendance and performance. In August, our intensive teams can support the transition back to school. Teens who participate in programming over the summer start the year feeling more confident about their ability to meet the demands of school without becoming overwhelmed. In late summer, ewe can accommodate transition days to assist the teen in practicing their new skills in the school environment. Also, even during the summer, our team can coordinate with schools to put supports in place to ease the transition back to the new school year.

Continue to check in with your teen over the summer months. Don’t avoid getting help because things seem to be ok. Investing in mental health over the summer can pay social and academic dividends for the rest of the year.

If you are in need of services in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, please call our KidsLink service at 1-855-543-5465.

In Connecticut please email bradleyreach@lifespan.org or call 401-433-1137.

In Florida, please contact the Apalachee Center https://apalacheecenter.org/bradley_reach/.

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