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Amid COVID-19 surge, focus on children’s mental health is crucial

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By Christina Hoppe

The recent surge in COVID-19 cases—caused in part by the Omicron variant—has left many people wondering whether this pandemic will ever end. COVID-19 has upended how we work, go to school, visit our families, and receive health care. While so much of what we focus on in our daily lives revolves around case counts and hospitalization numbers, parents have also been left to grapple with their children’s mental health in this new and uncertain world. A November 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed that the proportion of mental health issues among all pediatric emergency room visits has increased and remained high. For children ages 5 to 11, visits rose 24% over the same months in 2019. The spike was 31% for teens ages 12 to 17. 

Kids’ mental health issues were already rising in Texas, and the pandemic has only exacerbated these problems. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. During the pandemic, the volume and frequency of diagnoses such as anxiety and depression in children have continued to climb in Texas as they have across the country. Pediatric emergency department visits for mental health conditions have risen steadily, and the additional stress being inflicted upon families as a result of the pandemic is confounding. 

There are many factors contributing to this increase in kids’ mental health conditions, including the difficulty of children adjusting to virtual learning, the lack of socialization with friends and the ability to participate in sports and activities, physical isolation, grief, and loss of primary and secondary caretakers. The U.S. Surgeon General, in a 2021 report, has called on the country to work together to step up for our children and emerge stronger on the other side of this pandemic.

It is critical for adults who care for children to watch for signs that those children are experiencing mental health issues.

Here are some tips for taking care of your child’s mental health during these stressful times: 

  1. Talk openly about feelings. By keeping the channels of communication open, kids will feel reassured that they can come to you no matter what. Recognizing that their feelings have value will make it more likely that your children will continue talking about how they’re feeling throughout difficult times. Create opportunities for communication by spending time with your children in activities and play.
  2. Keep a routine. Kids thrive in routine, so when things – like COVID – upend their daily lives, it can add stress and uncertainty to the difficult feelings kids may already be navigating. Create routines for studying, physical activity, playing, snacks, meals and, most importantly, bedtime. And ensure that kids get enough sleep every night.
  3. Limit kids’ exposure to the news and social media. While we, as adults, often want to stay informed about crises like COVID, it is important to remember that constant information can be confusing and anxiety-inducing for kids. So, limiting kids’ exposure to news and social media is important.
  4. Make time for physical activity. Exercise and active play are some of the best things for children’s mental health. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children over six-years-old get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. 
  5. Limit screen time. Children should spend no more than two hours a day on screen-time activities. For kids, anxiety, depression, and loneliness are often the result of too much screen time. A 2018 study showed that, after an hour of screen time per day, increasing screen time was generally linked to progressively lower psychological well-being. The study also found that high users of screens were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
  6. Watch out for signs of trouble. No two children are the same but looking out for signs of distress can help you know when to take action. Some such signs include difficulty controlling emotions; younger children’s regressing and throwing temper tantrums, exhibiting disruptive behaviors, and school avoidance; avoiding normal activities; withdrawing from relationships with friends and family; erratic behavior; or a continuous sad mood. Talk to your children’s primary care physician and/or the counselors at your child’s school as a first step. 

At the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas (CHAT), we are committed to educating about the value of comprehensive children’s hospitals and the unique care they provide. 

Kids are not just little adults—caring for them requires specialized skill and training. If you are struggling with your child’s mental health and need more immediate care, consider seeking treatment at a comprehensive children’s hospital or via telehealth if you do not live near a hospital. Learn more at chatexas.com.

Christina Hoppe is the senior public policy director for the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas. 

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COUNTY LIFE

Commissioner’s Court meets on Monday

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Members of the Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on April 28 in the courthouse annex.
Items on the agenda are as follows:
Discuss moving May 26 meeting to May 27 due to the Memorial Day holiday; consider approving engagement letter with Edgin, Parkman, Fleming an Fleming to do the outside audit; request unclaimed property capitol credits from the Texas Comptroller; discuss the tax collector refunding $20,000 to Bowman 2021 Irrevocable Trust for overpayment of taxes; consider waiving penalty and interest for Pumped Equipment; consider disaster declaration; discuss service agreement with Waste Connections Lone Star for waste bin at animal shelter; line-item transfer from contingency to non-departmental machinery and equipment of $100,000 to complete the animal shelter; line-item budget adjustment in precinct two of $100,000 and consider precinct two trading in a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to NTX Trucks; discuss Smyrna Meadows Subdivision lots 1-12 29.44 acres in precinct two; consider petition to vacate Jay Gaston Road in precinct four; and open bids for emulsified asphalt and prime oil.

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COUNTY LIFE

Tax-free weekend to buy emergency preparation supplies

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As severe weather season approaches, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 28.

“While we can’t know in advance when the next fire, flood, tornado or hurricane may occur, we can make sure our families, homes and businesses have the supplies they need to face these and other emergencies,” Hegar said. “Don’t wait for disaster to strike. I’m encouraging Texans to take advantage of this tax holiday to save money while stocking up for emergency situations.”

The Comptroller’s office estimates shoppers will save about $2.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the tax holiday, which was approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015.

There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. These include:

  • household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced less than $75;
  • hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced less than $300; and
  • portable generators priced less than $3,000.

For purchases made online, note that delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. If the emergency preparation supply being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. Consider these charges when determining whether an item can be purchased tax free during the holiday.

For example, if you purchase an emergency ladder online for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, the total sales price is $309. Because the total sales price of the emergency ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.

Purchases that do not qualify include:

  • batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles;
  • camping stoves and camping supplies;
  • chainsaws;
  • plywood;
  • extension ladders and stepladders; and
  • tents.

A complete list of emergency preparation supplies that may be purchased tax free can be found on the Comptroller’s website.

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COUNTY LIFE

Spring storms bring danger to county

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By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Springtime in Texas came to Montague County Saturday bringing tornado warnings, heavy flooding and 6 to 10 inches of rain across the county.
Due to significant damage Montague County Judge Kevin Benton signed a disaster declaration for incidents on April 19-20 stemming from severe weather conditions. This will make the county prepared for any assistance if the governor does a similar declaration.
Benton said he is still waiting on the repair estimates from the commissioners for road repairs, but that will take a while. He said the team from the National Weather Service was here Monday surveying everything and they saw evidence between Lake Amon Carter and Fruitland of an EF-0 tornado and a similar one on Upper Montague Road.

Read the full story on the storm and related damage in the Thursday Bowie News.

Top photo – Black Road in northern Montague County looked like a gully washer after the Saturday storms. Only one road remains closed, Tage Cemetery Road, due to a damaged bridge. The other roads are “passable,” according to the county commissioner, but still are pretty rough caution is urged by drivers and please report them to the precincts or county judge. (Courtesy photos)

Patti Poe captured this hail at her house outside Montague on Saturday night. (Courtesy photo)
Dee and Clint Brown saw their barn destroyed during Saturday’s storm. They live off of FM 1956 near FM 3301. (Courtesy photo)
Bowie city crew were helping clear tree debris that had fallen into the streets during the weekend storms. (Courtesy photo)
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