Attendance and Mental Health Cannot Be Considered Separately
Professor Tamsin Ford emphasized that in order to solve the issue of absenteeism in schools, it is crucial to understand its interaction with mental health, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). According to Ford, schools should develop more effective support systems by considering these dynamics.
Professor Ford highlighted the bidirectional relationship between absenteeism and mental health, noting that low school attendance can lead to social isolation and deteriorating mental health in students. She also pointed out the complex connections between SEND and mental health, stating that children with SEND are more prone to developing mental health problems, which necessitates additional support in schools.
Ford stressed the importance of teachers in schools better recognizing and understanding this complex relationship, asserting that the problem cannot be solved solely through punitive approaches and that a collaborative approach is essential.
She further explained that absenteeism is often linked to complex social conditions at home, anxiety, depression, or bullying. Ford argued that schools need to take these factors into account and develop more constructive solution.
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