How does school starting later improve mental health?

Research shows that when school starts later, teens get more sleep, says Shelby Harris, a sleep psychologist and clinical associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with "many adolescents able to obtain at least eight hours of sleep per night." That leads to better physical and mental health, ...

Why is school starting later good for mental health?

Studies show that extra sleep for teenagers actually helps shield them against depression and anxiety. It's true! This study from 2017 showed that teenagers with school starting at 8:30am or later had better mental health than their earlier-starting counterparts.

How does starting school later improve behavior?

Delaying start times

Benefits observed from later high school start times include: Increased attendance rates. Decrease in disciplinary action. Decrease in student-involved car accidents.

How can schools improve mental health?

How does school work affect mental health?

Stressors, such as exams, homework overload, and the competitive nature of educational systems, can also impact students' mental health. The pressure to perform well in exams, cope with heavy workloads, and juggle multiple commitments can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels.

To improve mental health, some schools start later

What are the main causes of mental health issues in youth?

How to improve mental health?

Is school actually good for your mental health?

According to research cited by News-Medical.net, higher levels of education are associated with better mental health, due to the availability of choices that educated people have in their lifetimes (such as the ability to choose a career, choose to travel, spend money, and more).

Should schools do more to support mental health?

Without mental health education, students may go through their mental health struggles alone. While many schools have a school counselor or school psychologist on staff, many students aren't aware of if or how to reach out to them, or even feel comfortable talking to them.

How can schools reduce mental health stigma?

Educate students with mental health and SUDs about coping strategies. Include instruction about mental health issues, SUDs, and recovery in teacher and staff training programs. Provide opportunities for educators and staff to hear directly from individuals with substance misuse and mental health challenges.

How school start times affect mental health?

Disrupting these circadian rhythms with early school start times can cause chronic sleep deprivation, which leads to increased risk for obesity, depression, poor academic performance, substance abuse and driving accidents.

Do schools that start later do better?

Among students whose start times were delayed, final grades were 4.5 percent higher, compared with students who took the class when school started earlier. Most U.S. public high schools begin around 8:00 am. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a starting time of 8:30 a.m. or later.

Why school days should start later?

Later school start times support the biological needs of adolescents; they increase the amount of sleep adolescents get. Other benefits of later start times include: Improved attendance at school. Decreased tardiness.

How do longer school days affect mental health?

The amount of homework that students are expected to do in these schools is also a cause for concern. With such long hours, the students are often left with little to no time to complete their homework and this can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety.

How does starting school later improve academic performance?

The empirical estimates indicate that female students who attend schools with later start times get more sleep (36 minutes more per school night for a 1-hour later start time) and score higher on reading tests (0.16 to 0.28 standard deviations higher for a 1-hour later start time), although not on math tests.

Why shouldn't school start early?

During the school week, school start times are the main reason students wake up when they do. The combination of late bedtimes and early school start times results in most adolescents not getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep can improve academic performance.

How parents can support kids mental health as school year begins?

Promoting a Healthy Transition

Communicate: Encourage your child to express their feelings about going back to school. Acknowledge their fears, make them feel understood, and reassure them that it's perfectly normal to feel anxious about these changes.

Is it okay to not go to school because of mental health?

You are expected to attend school daily, but you can be excused under certain situations such as when you are sick or must quarantine. If you miss school to support, improve, or benefit your mental or behavioral health, then this is considered an excused absence.

What is the 10 importance of mental health?

Good mental health promotes better relationships with the people in our lives. Good mental health enables us to work more productively and reach our full potential. Good mental health enables us to make meaningful contributions to our family, to our community and to society.

Why is mental health not taken seriously?

Many times people with mental illness are viewed as lazy, lacking willpower or possibly worst of all, that they chose to feel that way. Furthermore, people tend to give inappropriate advice to those suffering from mental illness.

How many students struggle with mental health?

How Many College Students Experience Mental Health Conditions? The American College Health Association's (ACHA) Spring 2022 National College Health Assessment surveyed over 54,000 undergraduate students. It revealed that approximately 77% were experiencing moderate to serious psychological distress.

Why is school so hard and stressful?

The main cause for stressed out students is the heavy coursework they are taking on. Teens who want to get a jump on college may also sign up for extra classes, only adding to the burden. Too often, the teen takes on subjects that exceed their academic ability, causing added stress. Not enough sleep.

How can poor mental health be improved?

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better.

How is poor mental health treated?

Psychological therapies can be helpful for most people affected by mental health issues. For some mental health conditions, medications can also be helpful. Other support options include counselling, peer support, and community support services.

What causes mental health problems?