With approximately 280,000 Clark County School District (CCSD) students starting school on Monday, August 10, Lisa Durette, MD, associate professor and chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, shares the initiatives the department is leading to support the community, available mental health resources for families, and advice for parents who may be in crisis or supporting a child struggling with mental health-related challenges.
Why is back-to-school season so important?
Back-to-school season is important because school is where changes in a child’s mood, behavior, concentration, relationships, and daily functioning often become most visible. The transition also reestablishes routines and may reveal anxiety, school avoidance, learning difficulties, or social stress early enough for families and schools to intervene.
Please tell us about the new initiatives you have within psychiatry and behavioral health.
We have applied for grant funding to expand the Nevada Pediatric Access Line (NV PAL)’s reach, particularly in rural and frontier communities. We have also expanded the NV PAL program's focus, with support from the Fund for Resilient Nevada, to address screening for and identification of substance use problems amongst youth and to help provide connections to appropriate interventions.
How can families access the programs offered by the department?
The NV PAL is only one part of the department of psychiatry's services for youth. The department's clinical enterprise, Mojave Counseling, offers child & adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, and case management for youth and families. Services can be accessed by calling 702-253-0818.
What challenges do you see for students and families during this upcoming school year?
Like we see every year, youth may experience increased anxiety, school avoidance, sleep disruption, concentration problems, and stress related to academics, peer relationships, social media, or changes at home. Families may also find it difficult to determine whether a behavior reflects a temporary adjustment or a problem that is beginning to interfere with the child’s functioning.
What are some tips you have for parents that may be in crisis or have a child struggling with mental health-related challenges?
Stay calm, listen without judgment, and ask directly about what the child is feeling, including whether they are thinking about hurting themselves or not wanting to live. Contact the child’s pediatrician or mental health provider promptly, secure firearms and potentially dangerous medications, and do not leave a child alone when there is an immediate safety concern. If the child cannot be kept safe, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
What are some signs that parents can pay attention to if their child is struggling?
Parents should watch for sustained changes from the child’s usual behavior, including declining school performance, withdrawal from friends or activities, irritability, severe worry, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, substance use, self-harm, or statements about hopelessness or death. When symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with school, relationships, or everyday activities, the child should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.