Distress may lead to disengagement from school. It is important to recognise warning signs, and to communicate these signs to parents and carers and young people:

• lack of involvement in the new school;
• little or no talk about new friends;
• refusal to talk about school;
• little or no interest in doing homework;
• low confidence or self-esteem – a child might say they are "dumb" or "stupid";
• no desire to go to school, or refusal to go;
• a drop in grades or academic performance; and/or
• lack of interest in things a child may usually enjoy.

There are ways to overcome stress and distress. However, the first step is talking about stress, and modelling language that describes the difficulty that comes with change and uncertainty. It is also important that we talk about stress, and about getting help. This is crucial so young people know that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of resilience.