Why mental health belongs on every back-to-school list

Aug 22, 2025

Back-to-school season rewrites daily rhythms, expectations and even identities. And this shift can be felt in both households and classrooms alike. Some students welcome the change with excitement, while others approach it with hesitation or anxiety. It’s important to remember that both experiences are valid.

Whether you’re a teenager navigating new social hierarchies or a young adult stepping onto a campus for the first time, September rarely arrives quietly. It brings excitement, but also the nerves that can come with change.

So here’s a reminder that tending to put mental health at the center of this transition; because buying new binders and laptops can make this moment in time feel like its centered around academics, but it’s important to also be thinking about the importance of connection and steadiness during this period of change.

Beyond the obvious routines of sleep and hydration, here are some less-discussed ways to protect well-being as the school year begins:

• Name the unknowns: The biggest stressors are often the ones we don’t acknowledge. Spend time naming specific worries. A few examples could be making new friends, balancing coursework or even finding your way around a new building. Putting fears into words makes them less powerful.
• Practice transitions beforehand: Mental health thrives on predictability. Do a “practice run.” This could look like walking the route to campus, mapping out a morning routine, or even testing the first-week schedule so the unknown feels more familiar.
• Create a calm corner: Having a reliable place to retreat when things feel overwhelming can make all the difference. Maybe it’s your dorm desk or a small nook in your bedroom.
• Talk about your feelings (not just grades): Parents and caregivers can normalize mental health by asking “How did you feel today?” with the same seriousness as “How did you do today?”
• Plan for connection: Loneliness is one of the most under-recognized challenges of back-to-school season. Making even one intentional plan to connect with a peer, joining a club or looking for a mentor can soften the transition.

For post-secondary students, the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health has a province-wide package of supports. Visit the CICMH website to view the full list. Additional mental health tips specifically for children can be found on the Children’s Mental Health Ontario website.