Some Central Florida distance learning students say they’re feeling depressed

Parents should make sure children are still getting social interaction

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Mental health counselor Dr. Cheryl Burke said a majority of the children she sees and works with have told her they don’t like the idea of distance learning.

She said many of the students have said they miss their friends.

“They want to be able to have that social interaction, that’s what it’s all about for kids,” Burke said.

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Burke said after months of a school year that has looked very different for both those in the classroom and those learning from home, she said students tell her they have different concerns now than what worried them in the beginning of the school year.

Burke said she is now seeing depression in the children that she works with, versus anxiety, which is what she said it was in the beginning of the year.

She said children have said that there’s nothing to looking forward to and that every day looks the same.

“We can’t get together with our friends, we can’t go to any sporting events,” Burke said.

We asked if the lack of social interaction for the students doing distance learning has impacted their mental health, Burke said it has and added that some report feeling sad or down.

Burke said while some children have become comfortable with the distance learning and have adapted, it’s still important for parents to make sure their children are getting human interaction.

One piece of advice Burke offered to parents is to watch fun movies with their children and play games and activities.


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