When it comes to physical health, most parents and guardians are well aware of when their young one is allowed to go to school and when they cannot.
One of the benefits of COVID-19 has been a greater acceptance that we all need to stay home when we have a virus, in order to protect those around us.
However, it’s not so simple when it comes to your child’s mental health. Knowing when to allow our young people to be absent from school opens up a gray area that can seem difficult to navigate.
Children need free time
Almost all young people will have experiences and moods that impact their ability or willingness to attend school. For example, if a young person experiences a traumatic event, they may need some time to recover. Adding the usual stress of school at a time like this could leave them overwhelmed.
Additionally, when a young person is diagnosed with a mental health problem, a professional may suggest that they take regular absences from school to meet their mental health needs.
So when considering whether your young person should take a dedicated mental health day, it may be helpful to keep in mind that in many cases, it takes time to treat and recover from mental health issues – all as with physical health problems. .
And school?
School attendance is important. We know that missing a lot of school time can have an impact on a young person’s academic performance and social life.
As a child, your own mental health needs may not have been considered reason enough to miss school. So you might feel conflicted about letting your child stay home for this reason. You might even wonder if they just want a free day outside of class.
Establishing good foundations and habits as a family can help you have an ongoing understanding of your child’s mental health.
The 10-point rating scale that helps parents
Regularly ask them to rate how they feel on a ten-point scale.
If their score starts to drop, this could indicate that they are not in the best place when it comes to mental health and therefore a mental health day could be beneficial.
If you choose to let your young person take time away from school to support their mental health, setting expectations for how they use that time can help ensure that their time outside of class actually helps them feel better.
This may include things like attending an appointment with a mental health professional or spending time in nature. And even if they spend part of their day on their devices, extended screen time may not be the best choice for their mental health.
If your young person regularly asks not to go to school or simply refuses to go to school, it is very important that you seek support – whether from their school, from a mental health professional or a support service – or even all three.
Linda Williams is a Senior Psychologist and Clinical Lead at ReachOut, Australia’s leading online mental health service supporting young people through difficult times.
New York Post
