Ottawa classrooms filled up again this week as students returned from summer break, and while new backpacks and fresh notebooks usually steal the spotlight, local health experts say there's a quieter story worth paying attention to: the toll the back-to-school shift can take on kids' mental health.
Katherine Matheson, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at CHEO, spoke with CBC's Ottawa Morning about why this time of year tends to spike anxiety and stress for students across the city. According to Matheson, the jump from the unstructured freedom of summer to the rigid schedules, social pressures, and academic demands of the school year can hit kids hard, even ones who seem excited to be back.
Why the Transition Hits So Hard
Matheson pointed out that back-to-school stress isn't just about nerves over a new teacher or classroom. For many students, it means navigating shifting friend groups, adjusting to earlier wake-up times, and facing academic expectations that ramp up quickly after months away from a structured routine. Younger kids may struggle with separation anxiety, while teens often carry a heavier load of social and performance pressure.
For Ottawa parents, this is a familiar seasonal worry. With CHEO serving as the region's dedicated children's hospital, local families have direct access to specialists like Matheson who see these patterns play out year after year among kids from across the city and the wider Ottawa area.
What Parents Can Watch For
Matheson's advice centres on catching the signs early rather than waiting for a crisis. Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood, along with reluctance to go to school or a sudden drop in interest in activities a child used to enjoy, can all be red flags. She encouraged Ottawa parents to keep communication open and to treat these conversations as a normal part of the back-to-school routine, not something to bring up only once things feel serious.
School staff play a role too. Ottawa's school boards, including the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board, have leaned more heavily on in-school mental health supports in recent years, but Matheson's message is that support at home matters just as much in those first few weeks back.
An Ottawa-Specific Resource
What sets Ottawa apart is having CHEO right in the community. Families dealing with more persistent anxiety or mental health concerns don't have to look far for specialized pediatric care, and Matheson's comments serve as a reminder that the hospital's expertise extends beyond physical health into the emotional adjustment that comes with a new school year.
As Ottawa students settle into their routines over the coming weeks, Matheson's core message is simple: some stress is a normal part of the transition, but parents shouldn't hesitate to reach out for support if it doesn't ease up.
Source: CBC Ottawa
