Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance
Why some young people are afraid of going to school
What is Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance?
Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) is when strong emotions like anxiety, fear, sadness, stress, or feeling overwhelmed make it hard for someone to go to school. This can happen for reasons like missing home, worrying about schoolwork, feeling unsafe around others, or having bad experiences at school, like being bullied, punished too harshly, or feeling like they’ve failed. Some young people also feel overwhelmed by the school environment because of sensory differences, like being sensitive to noise, lights, or crowds.
It’s important to remember that children and young people experiencing EBSNA are not being lazy or just trying to skip school. It’s also not because their parents are doing a bad job or being too soft. They stay away from school because they are feeling very strong emotions or stress, and this is their way of coping.