Back-to-School Anxieties: Food Insecurity, Academic Pressure, and Other Stressors That Students May Face

Source: Avolore (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

The coming of the school year may mean transitioning to a new school or realising that you're now an upperclassman to new students. Whatever the case, it is commonly expected for students to experience anxiety during periods of transition. This is particularly true for kindergarteners who are entering school for the first time and similarly, teenagers returning to a new school year. However, students from all grades and stages can feel immense stress related to school. This article delves into 4 major stressors that a student may face going back to school. 

1. Food Insecurity

For many students in Canada, hunger can be a barrier to education. Canada is the only G7 nation without a comprehensive school food program. A lack of a nutrition system also leads to a lack of nutrition education, which can be a barrier to healthy food choices. This results in a rising prevalence of dependence on highly processed foods and an unparalleled detachment from our food systems. Efforts to systematically alleviate this issue have been difficult, as school food programs often rely on charitable funds like donations.

According to Statistics Canada, In 2022, 16.9% of Canadians were food insecure. Food insecurity is the inability to have enough food to eat or an adequate diet quality in socially acceptable ways. For a student, this may be going to school hungry or having nothing to eat on weekends. Students who face food insecurity in their households demonstrate relatively poorer health, academic outcomes, and social skills. A 2022 report from the BC Center for Disease Control indicates that household food insecurity has been identified as a stressor in early childhood development. A student’s physical and mental health, as well as their academic performance, are adversely affected by the existing mix of food insecurity and poor food literacy rates. The same report also indicates that 1 in 6 children in BC lived in a food-insecure household in 2021; this issue has long-term ramifications for public health.

It’s important to remember that students come from all socioeconomic backgrounds with negative impacts of social, economic, geographic and structural inequities — all this during a crucial developmental stage. While non-profits continue to advocate for systematic solutions to this issue, you can help by supporting local non-profits and independent school food programs that can help provide healthy breakfasts and lunches to students who might otherwise worry about going hungry, giving them the nutrition, energy and focus they need to succeed in school.

2. Medical Records

The start of the school year is a hectic time of year with a large to-do list for students and parents alike. A visit to the doctor is another crucial outing. Many schools will require parents/guardians to fill out health paperwork, and it seems like the to-do list won’t stop getting longer. Understandably, this process can be intimidating, but it is also important to a student’s safety at school. Let’s take a moment to break these forms down into their types: 

• Almost all schools will have Immunization Record forms to ensure students are up to date with the age-appropriate immunisation schedule. 

• Some schools have Health Assessment forms, which ask for permission to conduct yearly physical exams at school and help identify health concerns impacting learning. These checkups often catch the first symptoms for a diagnosis.

• Other forms may be specific to a student's needs such as medication/medical treatment forms, diabetes management plans, and if the school has meal plans, a dietary accommodation form. 

• If you’re in post-secondary school and you don’t have these forms at all, be sure to let your professors and other educators know about any health concerns that come up and learn about the resources and services available to accommodate you so you can keep doing your best work.

When those forms come in the busy first few weeks of primary or secondary school, try to make sure they are completed to the best of your abilities. I’ve feared being judged or labelled but I’ve realised that in reality, the information is used to best support students daily and in emergencies. Medical issues can often go unnoticed or unseen entirely and can make students, young or old, feel different, discouraged, or embarrassed. Whether you’re a parent or a student, know that schools are supposed to be inclusive, welcoming environments where you shouldn’t feel guilty for needing support.

3. Academic Pressure

What if I don’t do well in this class? What if the class has too many assignments? Will there be exams, and what if I fail? These are thoughts all too familiar to many students, including myself. There are various possible sources of academic pressure. It may result from financial troubles, parental and self-imposed expectations, assignments, or exams and grades.

The negative impact of academic pressure on a student's mental health has lasting consequences on wellbeing and progression through the education system. Pressure can lead to a higher risk of burnout, and having a heavy workload at school, which can interfere with your sleep schedule. It may affect your mental health if it lasts for a number of days. Other consequences may include the use of AI writing tools to alleviate the workload, resulting in cases of academic dishonesty, which can be devastating to a student’s academic record and career. 

Schools affect students' social-emotional health and well-being in preparing for the “real world”, a world where gender inequality is still prevalent in the workplace. The Government of Canada reports that in 2018, in Grade 10, 1 in 5 boys, as well as 2 in 5 girls reported feeling a lot of school pressure. This pattern only increases as a student progresses through higher grades. Not only do classes get harder without steady increments of difficulty, but the consequences of grades get even more significant to students’ futures.

Academic pressure is a common and stressful experience, but there are ways to help cope with this. Making use of available resources, whether it be a good school counsellor, volunteer tutors, or your teachers, can help manage the loads you bear as a student. Your grades do not define you as a person, or your future. There are always ways to find other options, and there are academic advisors and other resources who can help you. Sometimes, having faith in your ability to plan and seeing the results of your good time management can increase confidence. There are people such as teachers, friends or parents who believe in your health over your academic success. An exam score will not be worth beating yourself up about.

4. Social Anxiety and Separation Anxiety

Not everybody goes back to school excited to see all of their friends. What will my new teacher be like? Who will I sit with at lunch? For younger students, separation anxiety might be visible in their moods, or in their frantic thoughts such as “What if something bad happens to mom or dad while I am at school?” Children who experience separation anxiety worry about being taken away from their caregivers. These children may experience difficulties during the day and at school drop-offs. Social anxiety in students can cause them to struggle to interact with peers and participate in class due to extreme self-consciousness. Relationships with the people in our lives can cause anxieties no matter if a student is a toddler or a teenager. 

In addition to providing additional examples of separation anxiety and social anxiety symptoms, BC Children’s Hospital indicates that anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health challenges among children. Social anxiety can be disruptive to both academics and socialising at school such as eating in front of others, using public restrooms, and answering a question in class. Students may be mislabeled as underperforming for not participating in group work, or might not seek help from others when they need it.

Both social anxiety and separation anxiety can be improved upon such that they don’t interfere with daily activities. In treatment, it is critical to distinguish anxiety as a disorder from a strong feeling. However, in both cases, it's not always possible to treat symptoms on your own. Although you may manage your anxiety and suffering to a large extent alone, seeking expert assistance is always a wise first step. For sufferers of anxiety disorders, there are two primary treatments that are generally helpful for kids or young adults with anxiety disorders: a form of therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and prescribed medications. I hope that you can remember that working through these anxieties requires patience, practice, and empowerment; it is a worthwhile journey that won't end quickly, nor is it without some form of support. 

As summer draws to an end, we understand that although going back to school is an exhilarating experience, it may also cause worry. While it’s said often enough, “You don't know what someone is going through" is a powerful reminder of the complexities of student life; it emphasises the importance of empathy in our interactions. Empathy during the back-to-school season helps create a supportive, understanding, and inclusive environment that eases the challenges of this transitional period. Everyone's life is shaped by unique struggles, challenges, and emotions that may not be immediately visible.