How we support young people once a student is struggling with their mental health and not able to attend school is critical. How we build mental wellness protective factors, develop needs-based educational models, and create proactive and preventative approaches to supporting young people with school phobia disabilities is at the heart of upstream prevention and our values of “building a world worth living in.” 

The topic of school phobia and “refusal” is one of the most pressing issues in youth mental health and suicide prevention. 

A significant number of students lose:

• their education, 
• future potential in education, employment, and life,
•  peer and school support networks

Risk factors for suicidality, incarceration, poverty, and other negative outcomes increase with absence from school. 

It is time to break the silence on this societal, structural, and systemic issue affecting students with mental health disabilities.

Workshops for Parents, Educators, Youth and Healthcare Workers, and Professionals

These interactive school phobia workshops help participants develop skills and strategies, obtain information and resources, and improve their understanding of school phobia and mental health disabilities. Workshops are 1-3 hours long, and best suited for groups of 10-35 people.

YMHC Education and YMH Consulting present virtual School Phobia and Mental Health and Wellness workshops and presentations using the Zoom platform to students from elementary to postsecondary and parents/caregivers, school staff and employees in a variety of educational, workplace, and community settings.  Workshops and presentations can be tailored to your needs.

In your contact form, please include details about:

• The length of the workshop or presentation
• The number of participants
• The topics you would like covered in the workshop or presentation
• Any add-ons you would like to include such as participation certificates or print or digital copies of our mental wellness resources

An estimated three to five students in every classroom suffer from a diagnosable mental health challenge or disability. Mental health issues in students are increasing while student wellbeing is deteriorating. 

Young people today navigate a complex and ever-changing world, facing challenges and pressures in numerous aspects of their life. The social and emotional skills, knowledge, and behaviors that young people learn in the classroom can help them to build resilience, develop skills in managing adversity, challenges, stress, and mental health challenges, increase self and emotional awareness, and provide information on resources available in the school and community to help them manage. 

A focus on promoting wellbeing, building resilience and good mental health will improve outcomes for children and young people. We all benefit when we identify ways to support each other. 

A key component of the YMHC School Phobia Response Plan is the development of an Education Support Team with the family as a valued and essential member. 

Invite your school’s parent and caregiving community to join you in promoting mental health and wellness and success at school and responding to issues of school-based anxiety, avoidance, and absenteeism– host a virtual parent workshop. Parents will have the opportunity to feel a bigger part of the school community by discussing ways to be a part of the education support team for students. Parents will learn techniques to help with communication, coping and problem-solving strategies, health, and well-being.

Research shows that parent involvement in a child’s school experience greatly increases their chances for academic success, positive behavior, higher self-esteem, better attendance, and greater motivation. Parents are key sources of information about their child. They are their child’s first teachers. They have key strengths and insights that can contribute to the educational process. When schools and families work together to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but also throughout life. (National PTA, n.a.; Newman L. 2005; Henderson and Berla, 1997).

Our parent workshops and presentations combine evidence-based research and practical, actionable strategies to help inform and inspire healthy dialogue about children’s mental health and learning issues.