Parent Alert May 2025

By rbean | May 28, 2025 |

Working through Test Stress

Tests are an important part of education, but they can be a source of stress and anxiety for some students. These feelings can be attributed to their concerns over how the test will impact their future, expectations from parents and teachers, lack of a study plan, and self-imposed pressure to be perfect. Test stress can be experienced by any student regardless of age, level of education, or difficulty of the class. Some signs of test stress include:

Emotional and mental health concerns like agitation, anxiety, and depression.
More frequent illnesses or other physical discomfort such as headaches, stomach aches, or persistent fatigue.
Neglecting previously enjoyed activities or other responsibilities.

The end of the school year in particular can cause these negative feelings to be heightened due to state testing and final exams. Students who are struggling may not recognize what they are experiencing and may have difficulty reaching out for help. Here are some suggestions to help students work through their stress:

Encourage healthy habits like regular exercise, eating right, and getting enough sleep.
Parents and teachers should provide emotional support and an organized/suitable place for concentration.
Develop a study plan and stick to it.
Help students identify coping skills and how to recognize when they get overwhelmed.

These approaches will not fully get rid of test stress, but they can help students work through that stress in a healthy and productive way. Click on the links below to learn more.

Resources

Baylor College of Medicine – Minimize Adolescent Stress During Exams

Uworld College Prep – Under Exam Pressure: A High School Test Anxiety Toolkit

UWorld College Readiness – Stress Management for High School Students: A Teacher’s Guide

May 2025 Awareness

Wayne County Coalitions strives to observe the many different awareness events throughout the year that focus on mental health, substance use prevention, and other important topics. Please click on the links to learn more.

Mental Health Awareness Month: “Mental health awareness plays a crucial role in reducing stigma, encouraging early intervention and fostering empathy and understanding. By normalizing conversations around mental health, it nurtures a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to seek help, leading to improved mental wellbeing.” – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing

National Council for Mental Wellbeing – Mental Health Awareness Month 2025

National Prevention Week: National Prevention Week is May 11-17, 2025. The purpose of National Prevention Week is to:

Involve communities in raising awareness of substance misuse and mental health issues, implement prevention strategies, and showcase the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs.
Foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health.
Promote and disseminate quality substance use prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications.

SAMHSA – National Prevention Week 2025

Foster Care Awareness Month: There is an ongoing crisis in foster care in which there are not enough foster families for the number of children in the system. This crisis has resulted in children being placed in group homes or other congregate care settings, and in some cases, even spending time in hospital emergency rooms or detention centers while waiting for placement. Nearly 15,000 Ohio youth are impacted by the ongoing shortages.

Child Welfare Information Gateway – National Foster Care Month

CleveScene – Ohio’s Foster Care Crisis Forcing Hundreds of Kids to Sleep in Offices

Wayne County Children Services – Foster Care & Adoptive Placement

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: This celebration recognizes individuals from the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The goal of this celebration is to recognize the contributions the AAPI community has made to the U.S.

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

History – AANHPI Heritage Month

Prevention Action Alliance’s Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign reinforces our responsibility to promote healthy choices in our community which includes preventing underage drinking. May presents many opportunities to address this issue with prom, graduation, and the beginning of summer break being on the calendar. Click on the link below to learn more about this campaign and how you can help.

Prevention Action Alliance – Parents Who Host Lose the Most

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