Every year, it feels like summer goes by faster and faster. Many of us daydream in the cold, winter months about warm summer days at the pool or the taste of vine-ripened tomatoes right out of the garden. Once summer finally arrives, we often don’t want it to end. But August comes every year, whether we’re ready for it or not.
With the end of summer comes another time of transition — the back-to-school season. It’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety that often comes with any big transition in life. We all can recall “first days” of school or a new job that were a bit scary. After all, change can be hard, even when it’s a good change.
As a parent and a primary care physician, the back-to-school season is a mix of excitement and stress at my house, as well as at my office. At home, we are gathering school supplies, shopping for new gym shoes, and practicing getting up early to make the bus. In the office, we are gearing up for the school year with lots of school physicals and sports physicals.
Primary care providers are our trusted health professionals, who watch over our children and families as they grow. And a big piece of primary care is preventative medicine. We give immunizations to avoid getting sick, and we screen for conditions today to prevent them from becoming bigger issues down the road. This is particularly true for mental health issues, and especially important for children. We know that 1 in 5 children in the U.S. has a diagnosable mental health condition. Just last month, Illinois Governor J.D. Pritzker signed a law requiring annual mental health screening for all public school students grades 3-12.
At Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, our mission is to improve the health of area residents. This includes children’s mental health and wellness. One of the ways we do this is through our Integrated Behavioral Health services. When a child sees their primary care provider, we make screening for mental health a routine part of care. If we identify concerns, we can match that child with a Behavioral Health Coordinator who can provide support and counseling for the child and their family. Our teams include a Psychiatric Consultant who can help the primary care provider with medication recommendations, if needed. Because mental health IS health.
So as another summer wraps up, try to enjoy this back-to-school season. Remember that it’s normal for the kids — as well as us grown-ups — to feel a bit nervous about those days of “firsts.” And before we know it, we’re back in a good routine. Take care!
Dr. Jennifer Thomas, MD, FASAM, is a family medicine and addiction medicine physician with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. To learn more about Morris Hospital’s Integrated Behavioral Health program, click here.
