Parents didn't have much time to decide whether their children needed a mask at school Tuesday.

On Monday, a state Supreme Court justice ruled New York's mask mandate unconstitutional.

Some school districts across Long Island lifted the mandate, making mask-wearing optional for students and staff before an Appellate court judge Tuesday ruled that the indoor mask mandate could stay.

Mental health experts say Tuesday's sudden changes in policy can be upsetting to students.

"The inconsistencies and mixed information is making it very difficult for everyone, especially kids," says Dr. Liat Jarkon of the NYIT Center for Behavioral Health.

Jarkon says everyone is dealing with collective trauma due to the pandemic. She says kindness and patient can go a long way in going through it.