School Avoidance

Many youth attempt to avoid school. In fact, feigning sickness or negotiating to avoid school is attempted by most children at some point. For some youth, this behavior becomes a pattern, and this pattern becomes a daily battle that includes crying, screaming, and aggression. Individuals with school avoidance engage in these behaviors for a variety of reasons, but in most cases anxiety plays a significant role in the desire to avoid school.

If an individual has a history of attending school without avoidance, and then begins refusing, crying, or becoming aggressive when you attempt to get them to school more days than not, further assessment from a clinician may be necessary to determine whether the individual is experiencing mental health difficulties.

School Avoidance-oriented services at BCSC: