Is school refusal a mental illness?

School refusal is not a diagnosis but is best addressed in collaboration with the school and mental health professionals with experience treating this problematic issue. It's important that not going to school doesn't become “normalized” in your child's mind. So, seek help as soon as possible.

What is school avoidance disorder?

School avoidance is a disorder affecting school-aged children who, because of anxiety, depression, or social factors, avoid attending school because attendance causes stress. Some psychologic and social factors may cause school avoidance. Children may fake illnesses and make up excuses to avoid going to school.

Is school refusal a psychiatric emergency?

Problematic school refusal that is child motivated is a serious but common presentation and a child psychiatric emergency. Mental health professionals, paediatricians, educators and parents are often required to work in tandem to alleviate concerns due to this.

What is the best treatment for school refusal?

Treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, educational-support therapy, pharmacotherapy, and sometimes parent-teacher interventions. Providers may provide psychoeducational support for the child and parents, monitor medications, and help with a referral to more intensive psychotherapy.

Is school refusal a DSM 5 diagnosis?

School refusal, also known as school avoidance and school phobia, is not classified as a mental illness by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

School Refusal: Help A Child With Mental Illness Get to School

Is school avoidance a diagnosis?

School Avoidance is Not a Diagnosis

Therefore, there is no diagnostic code for school avoidance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5, which is the definitive authority that defines and classifies mental health disorders.

What are the three types of school refusal?

The terms fear‐based school phobia, anxiety‐based school refusal, and delinquent‐based truancy were commonly described as school refusal behavior.

What medication is used for school avoidance?

Separation Anxiety and School Refusal Medication: Tricyclic Antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Anxiolytic Agents, Antihistamines, Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents, Anticonvulsants, Alpha-Adrenergic Agents.

Which disorder is school reluctance and refusal common with?

While school refusal is not a diagnosable disorder, it often accompanies disorders like separation anxiety, social anxiety, depression or panic disorder.

How bad can school refusal get?

During adolescence, school refusal can present as shutting down, panic symptoms, and even thoughts of self-harm. In both cases, it can interfere with family communication, trigger heated emotions between parents and children, and make it difficult for both children and parents to engage in their normal daily routines.

Is mental illness an excuse for missing school?

Did you know that under a 2021 California law, public school students can take up to five days of excused absences for mental health, no questions asked? We are experiencing a youth mental health crisis in California and across the nation.

What is the most common age for school refusal?

School refusal can be an issue for children in both primary and secondary school, but it's more common in children aged 5-6 years and 10-11 years.

How do you treat school refusal behavior?

Exposure-based treatments are the primary behavioral recommendations for school refusal. Exposure treatments involve gradual exposure to feared situations to reduce the anxiety response over time. This approach includes education for the child about anxiety and how it impacts their body.

Should you force a child with anxiety to go to school?

Be empathetic but firm that your child or teen must attend school. Tell her you are confident she can face her fears. Let your child know that while physical symptoms of anxiety, such as stomachaches, headaches, and fatigue, are certainly unpleasant, they are not dangerous.

What are the symptoms of school refusal disorder?

Children may complain of a stomachache, nausea, or other symptoms that justify staying home. Some children directly refuse to go to school. Alternatively, children may go to school without difficulty but become anxious or develop various symptoms during the school day, often going regularly to the nurse's office.

What causes school refusal?

Teen Anxiety, Teen Depression, and School Refusal

Teen anxiety and depression are the most frequent causes when it comes to school refusal. Symptoms of anxiety or depression typically interfere with every aspect of a teen's life.

Can anxiety cause school refusal?

When children aren't able to attend school, it's often due to extreme anxiety or phobia. This is sometimes known as 'school refusal'. The term 'school refusal' makes it seem like the child has a choice, however the anxiety is usually so severe it's impossible for them to face it.

What are the four functions of school refusal?

A seminal paper by Kearney and Silverman (1993) divided SRB into four different behavioral functions: (1) avoidance of emotionally aversive (i.e., anxiety-provoking) situations, (2) escape from socially evaluative situations, (3) pursuit of attention from parents and significant others, and (4) pursuit of reinforcement ...

What is school refusal in autism?

School refusal can occur when children become distressed thinking about going to school. Although allistic (non-autistic) children may also struggle with this problem, it may be more pronounced in autistic children.

Does ADHD cause school avoidance?

Whether the reason is ADHD or anxiety or learning differences, sometimes school just isn't a good fit and in these situations, it's easy to understand why a child would look for reasons not to go.” A child's anxiety can lead to school avoidance in other ways as well, says Lebowitz.

What is the difference between school refusal and school avoidance?

School refusal is a term used to describe the signs of anxiety a school-aged child has and his or her refusal to go to school. It is also called school avoidance or school phobia. It can be seen in different types of situations, including: Young children going to school for the first time.

How do you deal with school refusal anxiety?

Avoid forcing your child to go to school.

Try not to shout, tell them off or force them into school. Making them go in without changing anything is likely to make their anxiety worse in the long-term. Even though they might physically get to school, they probably won't be in a position to learn either.

What is emotionally based school refusal?

Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is a broad umbrella term used to describe a group of children and young people who have severe difficulty in attending school due to emotional factors, often resulting in prolonged absences from school. The impact of EBSA on young people and schools is far reaching.

What is the function of school refusal behavior?

According to the functional model, school refusal behavior is generally maintained by one or more of the following conditions: • To avoid school-based stimuli that provoke a general sense of negative affectivity (anxiety and depression) • To escape aversive school-based social and/or evaluative situations • To pursue ...

What is a conduct disorder?

Conduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems characterized by a disregard for others. Children with conduct disorder have a difficult time following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. Their behavior can be hostile and sometimes physically violent.