Many young adults are getting ready to go back to school after the summer break. Or, they have already started going back to school. However, going back to school and starting a new year can be overwhelming for young people who are struggling with the impacts of mental health issues. For these young adults, it’s important to keep in mind strategies that can help manage symptoms of mental health issues while taking on the task of reintegrating schooling into their lives. School can come with a wide array of challenges, so taking them on without proper preparation can make them even more difficult. However, there are some tips for managing mental health and the process of going back to school that both parents and young adults can keep in mind to make the process smoother.

Some tips for going back to school and managing mental health can include:

Setting a Routine for Sleep

Sleep is essential for all young adults’ health. But, it is especially important for young adults living with mental health issues. Sleep can help to improve mental functioning as well as mood management. Lack of sleep can also make mental health issues worsen. So, it’s important to set a routine for sleep to ensure that young adults not only get the amount of sleep they need but the quality of sleep they need as well. Some tips include having a bedtime and an awake time on school days/nights, stopping the use of screens an hour before bed, making the bedroom dark and comfortable, and avoiding caffeine before bedtime.

Don’t Overprocrastinate

It’s easy to procrastinate before school starts due to the seemingly never-ending list of things to do. However, it’s best not to over procrastinate, because if you wait to do what you need to before going to school, all the tasks can become overwhelming, creating more stress than there needs to be. So, a good tip can be to create a list of things you need to get done before going to school and make a goal to get one or two of these things done each day before school starts. This way, you won’t have to worry about everything all at once and become stressed at the thought of having to do things to get ready for school right before it starts.

Accept that Feeling Anxious or Stressed About School is Normal

Change is never easy and this can be especially true for young adults who are diagnosed with mental health disorders. Going back to school can make young adults feel anxious, stressed, and even sad. But, these are all emotions that shouldn’t be alarming as they are completely normal. So, it may help to expect some difficult emotions during this time period. It can be helpful to have a reminder about coping skills and practice how to use them so that young adults can manage these emotions once school starts.

Get Help if You Need It

If you find that you or a loved one is struggling to control symptoms of mental health issues before or after returning to school, this may be a sign that help is needed. Help for young adults living with mental health issues is available at Yellowbrick on an outpatient basis. Here at Yellowbrick, we offer services geared toward young adults and their mental health diagnoses. Find out more about what we do to help young adults on our website, and reach out for help today.