Parents...questions about dealing with the school

I'm new here and just trying to look around and see where I fit in. There are A LOT of boards on this site!

I have 2 teens, both have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, both currently being treated with counseling and meds. My daughter has had a rough few weeks...acted out at school, agitated, inappropriate, and generally made some students in one class uncomfortable. So for now she is out of that class until further notice. I have a meeting with the teacher and counselors this week. I'm hoping to explain more about her illness and how she acts when she is not doing well, and that we just adjusted meds and she will get better. This is a new school year in a new school (high school). In one way I feel very defeated and defensive that we are starting out this way. But on the other hand, I will stand up for my child and make sure she is ok, and I want them to understand how her disease affects her and that these actions really are not her personality at all. People who know her well know that. Btw - the reason I'm extra nervous is that I spent almost 2 years getting them to put a 504 plan in place for her...but I got it!

Any advice? Anybody been through a situation with teens dealing with depression? If so, please help so I don't feel so alone...I'm a single mom and always go into all these things by myself. I need to get my mama bear attitude on and be prepared for potential battle!

Thanks!

It sounds like you're being proactive about the situation and adressing it appropriately with the school staff. As you say, it may be possible after a conversation with them about ehr condition, you can work together to help her be happier and more successful for the remainder of the school year. While I know its tough to feel liek things got off to a rocky start, the other side of the coin is that it is only the beginning of the school year, and there's so much time left. Now you can put this behind you, get a plan and changes in place and make the rest of the year a great one!!

Just wanted to pass along that the Anxiety and Depression Assocation does have resources and support for parents of teens with anxiety and depression. They have resources for local in person support...sometimes it's helpful to connect to other parents who "get it" and may have navigated similiar situations like this with school.

https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anx...sorders-school

Thank you so much! I will definitely look into it. When i was working on her 504 I called NAMI and then another local office..can't remember now who. I'll check this out!

I did call to check in with the school counselor this morning to give her the update about med changes.

Thanks again for the kind words and info!

My friend whose son has ADHD, brings his psychologist with her to school meetings to advocate for him.

My kids were in Gifted (also a 504 IEP plan), there were always kids in there with behavior issues. The teachers always push the parents to medicate them. The teachers just try their best to deal with no letting those kids distract the others too much.

Since this is a new school, have you brought in documentation from the previous school with contact information for the previous counsellor? Sometimes, it helps teachers and student support teams to have additional information.

Also, as a teacher, I usually empathize deeply with students who have challenges. I'll advocate for them the best that I can. But I can only do so with the information that I have. I truly believe that my colleagues do so as well. So, I would approach the teachers with this understanding and work shoulder to shoulder with them a much as possible.

Hope this helps.

Thanks! Things are good. Our meeting went really well. I have been checking in with the school counselor and teacher to see how things are going. There have been no more issues at school. We do have a current 504 in place from last year, we will be doing another meeting for it for this year soon.

My daughter is doing REALLY well with the med change and getting enough sleep.

Hi! I've tried to contact you, & reply to your welcoming texts, but was told that I have to have posted 3 pubic texts 1st! ( well I guess this will be two)! Talk soon- Denni