Introduction
Mental health illnesses can drastically affect a person’s ability to learn, socialize and function in their daily life. Children who experience mental health issues can especially suffer, as their developing minds may struggle to understand and cope with their symptoms.
In some cases, parents find that pulling their children out of school can be beneficial while they address underlying mental health issues. Knowing whether this is the right decision, however, is often very difficult. This article will discuss the potential benefits and consequences of pulling a child out of school for mental health.
It will outline the relevant legal considerations, and will explain the steps to be taken both before and after the decision is made.
What Is the Impact of Mental Health Struggles on Learning?
Mental health issues can tremendously affect a person’s ability to learn, particularly in younger populations. Symptoms of mental health such as depression and anxiety can directly interfere with a student’s motivation, attentiveness and ability to process information. Undiagnosed mental health issues often manifest as learning difficulties, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
Furthermore, the environment at school can influence a child’s mental health struggles. Stress, bullying, or academic pressure can all trigger or exacerbate mental health issues.
In order for a child to be fully successful at school, mental health issues must be addressed. Unfortunately, extracurricular or medical help may be limited for children with medical health concerns, as additional support and services can costly and time consuming to find.
For many families, pulling their child out of school entirely may be the only viable option available.
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Pulling a Child Out of School?
Pulling a child out of school can be beneficial if it gives a family and a student the opportunity to access services and treatments that would not otherwise be available. Private health care and treatments are often expensive, and are not an option available to all families. By taking their child out of school, a family can more easily seek out additional services in order to understand a child’s condition, and to provide necessary treatments and support.
Additionally, in some cases pulling a child out of school can place less stress on the student. Social pressures and bullying can contribute to mental health struggles, and removing a student from such a situation can be beneficial for their emotional wellbeing.
The relative lack of structure can also give students the chance to explore their feelings and experiences at their own pace. However, there are also risks associated with pulling a child out of school.
There may be long-term consequences to a child’s education if they are pulled out, as they may fall behind their peers in terms of academic knowledge and skills. In some cases, anxiety or depression associated with what a child has been absent for can make it difficult for them to reintegrate back into the school system. It is important to remember the decision to pull a child out of school is contextual – every situation is different and should be considered separately.
Key Legal Considerations
Before deciding to pull a child out of school, it is important to familiarize oneself with the relevant legal considerations. State mandated education requirements can vary widely, so it is necessary to understand local regulations and how they may affect a situation.
For example, some states only allow parents to withdraw a student for short periods of time, while others require that parents submit formal paperwork and documents. Such regulations may differ between public and private institutions, so if a family is considering withdrawing their child the specifics of the school should be taken into account. Additionally, if a child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan through their school, the details of these services must be considered before withdrawing a child.
Such services are legally mandated for students with special education needs, and as such should be addressed before removing them from the school system. In some cases, withdrawal from school may lead to the termination of such support services.
How Can Mental Health Challenges Be Addressed Before Pulling a Child Out of School?
Before deciding to withdraw a student from school due to mental health struggles, there are steps which should be taken in order to address their needs while they are still enrolled. Depending on the student’s needs, this may involve speaking to their general education teacher, their counselor, or their school’s special education specialists. If a student has an IEP, then the team responsible for its creation may be able to modify it to better suit the needs of the student.
If a student needs additional intervention to help them cope with mental health struggles, then such supplemental support services can often be provided. In order for a school to be able to provide support, however, the student must have their mental health condition diagnosed and documented.
Mental health diagnosis is often a difficult process and can take both time and money. If a family believes this is the appropriate route for their child, then the process should be started as soon as possible.
The Process of Withdrawing a Child From School for Mental Health Reasons
If, after all steps have been taken to address mental health concerns through the school system, it is decided that a child should be pulled out of their institution, then the process of their withdrawal should begin. The specifics of this process can vary depending on the situation, but a few key steps stand out.
The first is ensuring that the family and the school are in agreement and agreeing to the temporary nature of the withdrawal. The circumstances, the plan for reintegration, and the services available to the family should all be discussed and agreed upon. The parent must also provide the school with documentation for their child’s mental health condition.
Additionally, the withdrawal must be formally completed in accordance with the applicable laws. Paperwork and documentation may need to be filed and submitted to the school, and any necessary contracts must be signed.
Planning and Preparing for Reintegration after School Withdrawal
As mentioned before, mental health struggles can often place children at risk of falling behind in their education. In order to ensure that reintegration is successful, it is important to plan ahead and take steps to bridge any gaps that may have developed while the student was out of school. For example, if a student pulled out of school during the academic year, then steps should be taken to ensure they catch up with any changes in the curriculum.
If a student pulled out of school part-way through a class, then alternative arrangements should be made to ensure that all relevant material is provided and mastered. If possible, the course should be completed or altered in order to account for the withdrawal.
Support services and therapies may also need to be organized for a student before they return to their studies. Many students who have experienced school withdrawal may feel anxious or uneasy about returning to the classroom environment, and as such these feelings should be taken into account when planning for their reintegration.
Conclusion
Pulling a child out of school can be a difficult decision, but it can also be a necessary one in order to provide a safe and supportive environment for mental health issues to be addressed. It is important to remember that the decision is context dependent, and that all relevant legal considerations should be taken into account before any steps to such a withdrawal are taken. Furthermore, the process of reintegration should be planned carefully and adequately, in order to ensure that a child’s education is not negatively affected by their withdrawal.
Ultimately, taking a child out of school can help to improve their educational experience and mental state in the long run.