An educational infographic detailing emotional, physical, cognitive, and social warning signs of school attendance challenges, such as anxiety, stomachaches, difficulty concentrating, and social isolation.

Warning signs: How to recognize attendance challenges.

#schoolanxiety #schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #studentmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #ymhc

Waves of change in school attendance challenges. ymhc.ngo/2026

#schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #schoolattendance #ymhc

An image of an empty classroom with wooden desks and orange chairs. Above the photo is a text box outlining strategies for school anxiety, titled "Presence & Absence at School Matter."

Presence & absence at school matter.

#SchoolAnxiety #SchoolAttendanceChallenges #SchoolAvoidance #EducationSupportTeam #StudentMentalHealth #TeacherSupport #YMHC

A promotional graphic for the 2026 National Virtual Conference on school attendance challenges, featuring a wave illustration and classroom imagery.

2026 National Virtual Conference: Waves of change in school attendance challenges. Learn more and sign up at ymhc.ngo/2026

#schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #schoolwidestrategy #SchoolAttendance #studentmentalhealth #education #ymhc

A promotional flyer for the 2026 National Virtual Conference titled "Waves of Change in School Attendance Challenges" happening May 29-30, 2026.

2026 National Virtual Conference. Waves of Change in School Attendance Challenges: Addressing Barriers to Education with Multi-Tiered School-Wide Strategies. May 29-30, 2026.

#schoolattendancechallenges #schoolanxiety #schoolavoidance #schoolattendance #studentmentalhealth #ymhc

A graphic with the title Teaching a Student with School Anxiety. The text reads: Your support could make a difference. Try to understand your student's experience of school. Try to understand the challenges your student faces and explore ways to support them. The background features a serene landscape with tall grass and a body of water.

Teaching a student with school anxiety. Your support could make a difference.

#schoolanxiety #schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #studentmentalhealth #schoolmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #youthmentalhealth #ymhc

A photo of an empty wooden school desk and chair with the text "Every absence from school tells a story" and information about the 2026 National Virtual Conference.

Every absence from school tells a story. 2026 National Virtual Conference, May 29-30, 2026.

#schoolanxiety #schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #SchoolAttendance #studentmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #ymhc

An event graphic for the 2026 YMHC National Virtual Conference about school attendance challenges featuring an illustration of a large wave and a classroom photo.

2026 National Virtual Conference. Waves of Change in School Attendance Challenges: Addressing Barriers to Education with Multi-Tiered School-Wide Strategies. May 29-30, 2026.

#schoolattendancechallenges #schoolattendance #schoolmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #teachers #educators #ymhc

A promotional graphic for a school guidebook titled "Supporting Students with School Phobia" featuring a discount code and the YMHC website.

School Special: Order 20 Guidebooks and Save $200. Get 20+ copies of Supporting Students with School Phobia: A Guidebook for Families and Schools and save $200 — use code guidebook20 at checkout. Offer ends February 28, 2026. ymhc.me/schoolphobia

#schoolanxiety #schoolattendancechallenges

A circular flow chart depicting barriers to education including unmet educational needs, negative thoughts about school, increased anxiety, and school avoidance.

Barriers to education and learning.

#schoolanxiety #schoolattendancechallenges #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #studentmentalhealth #ymhc

"My daughter initially complained of headaches before school. No one indicated anxiety was a possible cause, and it was only a random internet search that tuned me in to the topic of school anxiety and phobia. That allowed me to speak more openly with our daughter regarding her feelings about school."

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges

School Attendance Challenges: Experiences of grief, loss, and separation Lack of support for inability to learn Decrease in motivation Inability to function, concentrate, and manage education Increased anxiety Emotional distress leading to avoidance of situation causing distress (school) Distancing from source of stress Experiences temporary relief Increased comfort at home School absence Loss of friends and increased isolation

School Attendance Challenges: Experiences of grief, loss, and separation

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #mentalwellness #ymhc

"Every day would start with me trying to get conditions perfect so I could get my son to school. I felt like I was walking on eggshells while holding a hand grenade, without having slept for a week. If I could manage to get him — one, out of bed; two, clothes on; three, fed and into the car — I would often end up with a screaming child in the school car park." "Every day felt like I had fought a massive battle before 9am, and my nervous system was absolutely wrecked."

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #mentalhealthmatters

School Attendance Challenges Website https://sac.ymhc.ngo/ Canada's first survey on school attendance challenges and barriers to education and learning Survey findings from 519 families Over 400 stories from families with elementary and secondary students who experience challenges in accessing and managing school A report on the findings with information on language and research over the last hundred years

School Attendance Challenges Website
sac.ymhc.ngo

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #education

Red Flags for School Attendance Challenges 🚩 Emotional distress 🚩 Physical symptoms: headache, stomachache, dizziness 🚩 Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea 🚩 Negativity towards school, subjects or teachers 🚩 Shaking, trembling: panic/anxiety attacks 🚩 Sleeping difficulties

Red Flags for School Attendance Challenges

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #education

School attendance challenges don't just affect the student who can't attend school. They affect the entire family.

School attendance challenges don't just affect the student who can't attend school. They affect the entire family.

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing

School attendance challenges What you see: Feeling sick Withdrawing or isolating Getting emotionally dysregulated in school Having difficulty staying in the classroom Having difficulty concentrating or focusing Lateness or absence What you might not see: Executive function challenges Boredom: school doesn't feel relevant to student's life Sensory overload Social anxiety difficulties Feeling lonely Learning difficulties Grief and loss Family stressors School stressors

School attendance challenges

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing

Handle With Care If your child is struggling with getting to school, I would like to provide additional support at school. If there is any way that I can make changes in the classroom to help your child adjust to being here, please let me know. If your child is coming to school after a hard night or morning with big thoughts and feelings about school, please text me, “Handle with Care”. That message will help me prepare the classroom with extra help, patience, compassion, time, and support during the day.

Handle With Care

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #teachers #students

Every empty chair tells a story.

Learn more & sign up: www.ymhc.ngo/2026

#schoolanxiety #conference #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #schoolattendancechallenges #mentalhealtheducation

School Attendance Challenges Sleeping Waking up Leaving the house Entering school Staying in school

School Attendance Challenges

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing

Warning Signs of School Attendance Issues 🔸 Saying they can’t or don’t want to attend 🔸 Arriving to school late 🔸 Learning difficulties 🔸 Being isolated 🔸 Having stomachaches or headaches 🔸 Health issues 🔸 Negative about school, subjects, or teacher 🔸 Missing classes 🔸 Family issues 🔸 Disengagement from school 🔸 A noticeable drop in grades, effort 🔸 Fear of school 🔸 Withdrawn, sad, quiet 🔸 Changes in behavior 🔸 Lack of support 🔸 Being angry or upset, or acting out 🔸 Being the victim of bullying or harassment 🔸 Absence of protective factors 🔸 Not completing homework or classwork 🔸 Feeling bored, disengaged, not stimulated 🔸 Difficulty concentrating https://ymhc.me/schoolphobia

Warning Signs of School Attendance Issues

ymhc.me/schoolphobia

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #education

“Every day, you dread the phone ringing. It’s 9:30 a.m., and you know it’s the school. Your child says he feels sick or wants to come home. When you say no, he gets angry and shuts down. He feels like no one cares. You feel helpless. He is barely passing, but there is no extra support. He doesn’t qualify, and assessments have a two-year wait. You just want him to feel smart, safe, and valued. When he says he wishes he was never born, it breaks you.”

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

School anxiety can feel like: 🔹 dizziness 🔹 stomachaches 🔹 headaches 🔹 tension 🔹 shakiness 🔹 tired 🔹 overthinking 🔹 feeling overwhelmed 🔹 trouble concentrating 🔹 brain fog 🔹 negative thoughts 🔹 irritable 🔹 depressed 🔹 angry 🔹 exhaustion 🔹 sweating 🔹 nausea 🔹 excessive worrying 🔹 withdrawal 🔹 isolation #schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #mentalhealth #studentwellbeing #anxiety

School anxiety can feel like

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #mentalhealth #studentwellbeing #anxiety

Behind every missed day is a story. Understanding that story is the first step toward support.

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth

Chronic school absenteeism is one of the most pressing youth mental health and suicide prevention issues in Canada. Supporting attendance begins with supporting mental wellness.

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges

—especially those from diverse backgrounds and with unique learning, health, or life circumstances.

#SchoolAttendance #schoolattendancechallenges #schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #education #inclusion #accessibility #ymhc

A student’s absence is not avoidance — it’s communication.

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #education #teachers

The question is never ‘Why won’t they go?’ but ‘What is getting in the way?’

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #educationsupportteam #schoolwidestrategy #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth

Home - School Attendance Challenges Youth Mental Health Canada conducted a survey study across the country in 2019 and 2020 focusing on students’ experiences with school attendance challenges

That allowed me to speak more openly with our daughter regarding her feelings about school."

ymhc.me/schoolphobia

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #youreducationmatters #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #studentmentalhealth #anxiety #parents

A national strategy could help us see patterns, identify inequities, and learn from jurisdictions that are making progress.

#schoolanxiety #schoolphobia #schoolavoidance #schoolabsenteeism #SchoolAttendance #ymhc #schoolattendancechallenges #education #studentwellbeing #studentmentalhealth