Research finds mental disorders take a toll on students and force school absences

Students with mental disorders are missing so much school it could completely change the course of their lives, a researcher has found.

Research found high school students with mental disorders had almost double the rate of absence. Picture: Supplied

STUDENTS with mental disorders are missing so much school it could “completely change the course of their lives”, research shows.

A new study reveals Australian high school students with a mental disorder missed on average five weeks of school a year.

“It would be a level of absence we would have concerns about on an academic level,” said research author Associate Professor David Lawrence, principal research fellow at the University of Western Australia’s Graduate School of Education. “The more days you miss from school, the greater the learning impact.

“Not only are you missing days at school, you’re missing out on learning opportunities that could impact the entire course of your life.”

The report found one in seven school students had a mental disorder in the past 12 months, with anxiety and attention deficit disorders most common. While the diagnosis accounted for more than 13 per cent of school days missed, there was a startling difference between absence rates of those with mental disorders and those without.

Primary students with a mental disorder missed 11.8 days on average — 3.5 days more than those without.

But the numbers surged in high school — students with diagnoses in years 7 to 10 missed 23.1 days while those in years 11 and 12 missed almost 25.8 days, compared with 10.6 days and 12 days respectively for those without.

Prof Lawrence said with students missing the most school during VCE years, “it could constrain your life choices and completely change the course of your life”.

“This is an issue that needs to be taken seriously given the number of children who are affected,” he said.

Headspace senior clinical adviser Nick Duigan said students with mental disorders could experience barriers to attending school, including bullying, learning difficulties, conflict with teachers or anxiety in their performance.

He said the study showing students’ rate of absence “doesn’t speak to deficiencies in individual people”.

“It speaks to deficiencies in the system that is supposed to help them,” he said.

“There is a responsibility for parents and schools to provide an environment for young people to feel supported even when they’re struggling.”

Mr Duigan said decisions on a students’ future, of attending university or studying a particular subject, “shouldn’t be left to their diagnosis”.

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For support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to
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