How badly has the COVID-19 pandemic affected kids’ mental health? Mental Health America of Greater Houston recently held “listening sessions” with students, parents, teachers and administrators in the 28 Houston-area school districts that work with its Center for School Behavioral Health — and what they heard was alarming.

According to Jamie Freeny, the center’s director, K-12 students are now more frequently dealing with grief, family stress and isolation. There’s more clinginess, more self-harm, more cyber-bullying, more suicidal ideation, disrupted sleep and acting out. Kids are more frequently being diagnosed with anxiety, depression and stress-based diseases such as shingles.

Freeny, who has doctorate in public health, did her Ph.D research on childhood trauma. Here, she talks with Lisa about specific ways parents and other adults can help kids who are struggling.

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