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School Refusal Program

School Refusal Program logo

The program offers a comprehensive assessment and treatment of young people aged between 11-15.5 years who are experiencing school attendance difficulties. School refusing children typically suffer from anxiety and sometimes depression, and become severely emotionally distressed when taken to school. They often complain of feeling unwell, they may cry, resist efforts to get them back to school and become quite distressed. Left untreated serious short and long-term consequences are associated, such as interfering with a young person's social and emotional development, academic achievement and vocational opportunities, and leave them at risk of psychiatric difficulties later in life.

Our program investigates whether treatment outcome can be improved by augmenting psychotherapy (cognitive behaviour therapy) which helps over half of school refusing children, with anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication compared to placebo (sugar tablet).

The School Refusal Program is funded by beyondblue: the national depression initiative and the Foundation for Children. The program aims to investigate the adjunct use of anti-depressant medication and counselling to treat children who refuse to go to school due to anxiety and/or depression.

Chief Investigators

Program Co-ordinator

Program Clinicians

How to make a referral

A young person or their family can contact the program directly on (03) 9501 2490 or can be referred via professionals such as the local doctor, paediatricians, community health centres, schools, hospitals, child mental health clinics and other community agencies. 

Cost

The School Refusal Program is a free service to those people who are eligible.

Additional Information

Links

A joint initiative between
 Monash University
 and beyondblue

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