Clinical psychologist speaks about long term mental health impact on kids not in school

Wednesday, Palm Beach County School leaders will make their final decision on reopening plans.

The district superintendent has recommended that all students start the school year with distance learning.

An idea creating a strong reaction from all sides.

DECISION ON REOPENING PLANS.THE DISTRICT'S SUPERINTENDENTHAS RECOMMENDED THAT ALLSTUDENTS START THE SCHOOL YEARWITH DISTANCE LEARNING.

THATRECOMMENDATION LEADING TOSTRONG REACTIONS.

TODD WILSONSPOKE WITH PARENTS..

AND ACLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ABOUTTHE POTENTIAL IMPACT FORCHILDREN.<< NATS: (VO) MICHELLE SANTOSWALKS ALONG ATLANTIC AVENUE INDELRAY BEACH WITH A LOT ON HERMIND.

SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUTHER DAUGHTER NOT BEING INSCHOOL AND THE TOLL IT'SHAVING ON HER.

(SOT 9:10:27)11SEC (MICHELLE SANTOS-CONCERNED PARENT) SINCE THECOVID-19 THING HAPPENED EVENTHOUGH IT'S BEEN VERYSUPPORTIVE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM,IT DID GREATLY AFFECT HERMENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

NATS:(VO) DR. RACHEL NEEDLE, ACLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST SAYS ATTIMES OF UNCERTAINTY..

ANDCRISIS LIKE THE PANDEMIC WE'RELIVING THROUGH..

THERE CAN BELONG TERM IMPACT TO A CHILD'SPSYCHE.

(SOT 1:44:41) 10 SECWE KNOW THAT THIS ABSOLUTELYIMPACTING CHILDREN'S MENTALHEALTH, IT'S IMPACTING THEMINTELLECTUALLY, IT'S IMPACTINGTHEM SOCIALLY BUT DIFFERENTCHILDREN WILL RESPONDDIFFERENTLY.

NATS: (VO) NEEDLESAYS KNOWING SCHOOL MAY NOTLOOK THE SAME COME FALL IT'SIMPERATIVE TO FOR KIDS TO HAVEA SAFE PLACE TO EXPRESS ANDPROCESS THEIR EMOTIONS.

(SOT01:28:02)(DR. RACHEL NEEDLE-CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST) 6 SECWE KNOW THAT SOCIAL SUPPORTAND HAVING A STRONG SUPPORTSYSTEM CAN MAKE ALL THEDIFFERENCE AS WELL.

NATS: (VO)WHILE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTLOOKS TO MAKE A FINALDECISION, CLAUDIA MICHEL SAYSSHE WOULDN'T SEND HER KIDSBACK ON CAMPUS.

(SOT 5:51:55)14 SEC JUST PUSHING THEM BACKTO GOING TO SCHOOL TO HAVETHAT INTERACTION WHEN IT MEANSPOSSIBLE PUTTING THEM INHARM'S WAY AND I DON'T KNOW IFI COULD LIVE WITH MYSELF AS APARENT KNOWING THAT I MADE THEDECISION.

NATS: (VO) WITH ACHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, REMYTORSIELLO, IS NOT READY TOSEND HER SON BACK... BUT SHECONNECTED WITH ANOTHER FAMILYSO HER SON COULD MAINTAINSOCIAL INTERACTION.

(SOT2:00:40) 7 SEC WE WERE ON THESAME PAGE WITH NOT GOINGANYWHERE AND JUST SAW EACHOTHER SO THAT HELPED HIM BEOK.

NATS: (VO) DR. NEEDLESSAYS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT ATTHE MOMENT IS TO BE CREATIVEAND FLEXIBLE FOR EACH CHILDSNEEDS.

IN PALM BEACH COUNTY,TODD WILSON, FOX 29 NEWS,WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.