School Reopenings Improve Children's Mental Health Post-Pandemic

A large-scale study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health indicates that the reopening of schools during the pandemic significantly improved children's mental health, particularly among girls.

According to the research published in the journal Epidemiology, data from 190,000 children ages 5 to 18 in California showed a 43% decrease in diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and ADHD nine months after schools reopened.

Spending on psychiatric drugs also dropped by 8% for depression medications and 5% for ADHD medications, with overall therapy-related spending decreasing by 11%. Rita Hamad, a professor involved in the study, emphasized the importance of in-person schooling for children's wellbeing, particularly in light of the heightened isolation children faced during closures.

The study highlighted that girls experienced the most substantial improvements, indicating the critical role of school-based social environments. However, researchers called for further studies to examine the mental health impacts of school reopenings in marginalized communities, as this analysis focused on high-income districts.

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, newly elected school board members for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are prioritizing mental health and addressing absenteeism, underscoring the ongoing challenges in ensuring children's mental wellness in educational settings.