My Teen & School Phobia

Secondary School

My son started showing signs of school phobia at the beginning of Grade 11 following the numerous shutdowns of in-person learning. However, if I look back, he and his twin brother began exhibiting signs of school phobia from the beginning in kindergarten. It was only until my one son began missing multiple school days (outside of being late) that I began to worry intensely about the pattern that was beginning to appear. The consequences have been awful– not only grades falling from A to D, but watching my son’s self-esteem, sense of belonging, and anything else that should allow a…

The anxious child- undiagnosed by clueless elementary school staff

Secondary School

Sad and disappointed to read that the plight of today’s school Refuser hasn’t changed much since my nightmare experience in elementary and high school in the late 50’s and  60’s. As a child born with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder I hated school and started running away at age 7. Because I was forced to go to school under fear of the police getting involved I was smart enough to figure out ways to avoid school an avoid the truancy cops. I would leave home in the morning- brown paper lunch bag in hand and walk the 20 minutes to school.…

Training Resources for School Teachers on Addressing School Avoidance, School Refusal, and School Phobia

Education Resources

Training Resources for Educators on Addressing School Phobia Chronic absenteeism due to mental health disabilities is a pervasive issue in Canadian schools, transcending mere concerns of mental health, disability, education, or human rights—it’s a critical matter of survival. The absence of tailored educational accommodations, support, and services escalates the risk of suicide among these students. The ongoing silence surrounding school phobia and chronic absenteeism demands urgent attention. Decisions made at various levels—from individual schools to school boards, and from provincial and territorial authorities to the federal government, involving school support staff, administrators, and mental health professionals—have profound implications. Students grappling…

Join Our April 2024 School Phobia Training Course

Education Resources

Attention all mental health, education, and community professionals: seize the opportunity to contribute to positive change. If you missed our January session on school phobia training, we’re offering another chance to join our upcoming courses next month. The course kicks off on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 6 p.m. ET, continuing every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. ET until May 8th, all through Zoom. Spaces are available, so act fast. Participants will engage in a detailed course that includes assignments, certification, and a duplicable guidebook designed to assist students dealing with school phobia, avoidance, and frequent absenteeism. Register at https://ymhc.ngo/pages/ymhc-professional-training-courses 

School Refusal, School Avoidance: Resources for Educators

Education Resources

Workshops on School Phobia, Avoidance, and Chronic Absenteeism Supporting young individuals when a student faces mental health challenges and cannot attend school is crucial. Our approach to constructing mental wellness protective factors, tailoring educational models to needs, and forming proactive, preventative strategies to aid students with school phobia is fundamental to early prevention and reflects our commitment to “building a world worth living in.” Addressing school phobia and reluctance to attend is a critical concern in youth mental health and suicide prevention. Many students risk losing their education, support networks, and future opportunities, with increased susceptibility to suicidality, incarceration, poverty,…

Professional Certificate Course and Resources in School Phobia, Avoidance, and Absenteeism

Education Resources

Supporting young people when a student is grappling with mental health issues and is unable to attend school is crucial. It’s vital to enhance mental wellness protective factors, create educational models tailored to individual needs, and develop proactive and preventive strategies to assist young people facing school phobia. This approach is central to early intervention and embodies our commitment to “building a world worth living in.” The issue of school phobia and “refusal” stands out as a pressing challenge in youth mental health and suicide prevention. Many students are at risk of losing their education, support networks, and future opportunities.…

Strategies for Addressing School Refusal, School Avoidance, School Phobia

Education Resources

School phobia is a complex mental health disability. There are many challenges for the student, family and school. The more time a student is away from school, the more difficult it is for them to resume normal school life. YMHC has developed resources and tools to support students, families, schools, and mental health professionals. Our 20 years of experience working on school-induced mental health challenges and disabilities provides the much-needed authenticity, expertise, and leadership to the field of child and youth mental health and suicide prevention. Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) is dedicated to making a significant impact in the…

Being Denied the Right to Learn

Elementary School

I don’t know where to start. I do know that my daughter was left behind in the school system. She had a major trauma happen to her in kindergarten. I let the school know. The next year in grade 1 she had significant difficulties that showed in her behavior.  I realized she hated going to school and that she had a learning disability. I asked for testing to be done and I was denied because she was too young. In spite of that, we kept plugging along. I asked for extra help and we got some but not enough. In…

15 yrs. Grade 9

Secondary School

My heart breaks for my son. I worry about his future, and as it stands, school does not give the support he deserves; he will probably end up in a trade. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if he could be an engineer, the educational system would have to change.

7 yrs. Grade 2

Elementary School

My son has had issues all his life. In preschool, red flags were noticed and professional services were obtained. During his time at school, he was told he’s being a baby, he’s a “drama kid”, to get over it, has a victim complex- by the principal of his school- and was being yelled at by the vice principal, when it clearly stated in his psych evaluation that he’s sensitive to tone of voice and body language.