Blog
ARCHIVE
October 15, 2019
“When it comes to school refusal, getting all the adults on the same page is the bottom line,” said James Wallace, MD, a REACH faculty member. “Until you have that, you have nothing.” Dr. Wallace, who teaches child psychiatry at the University of Rochester (New York) Medical Center School of Medicine and Dentistry, described an approach to school refusal that unites primary care providers, schools, and mental health professionals in helping families make choices that support regular school attendance. “An evidence-based approach to school refusal, and the anxiety or depression that usually underlie it, includes cognitive behavior therapy and sometimes medication,” said Dr. Wallace. “But there’s a third piece: getting all of the adults involved, including the parents, to address the social-emotional components of school attendance in a consistent way.”
Read Article
October 29, 2018
Ryan, age 12, has missed almost three weeks of school so far. He complains of nausea and headache most school days and has to be cajoled into getting out of bed, but his mother says he is fine on weekends. The mother, who is eight months pregnant, is frantic; she can’t afford to take any more time off work before she delivers. School refusal can have serious consequences. On the short term, the child falls behind academically, both the child and the family experience disruption and distress, and there can be legal and financial ramifications. Long-term consequences for school refusers include violent behavior, school dropout, early marriage, and unemployment. “The main goal of treatment is to get the child back to school as soon as possible,” says Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, REACH Institute CEO and clinical psychologist. “Being absent from school is highly reinforcing.” Like many school refusers, Ryan presents somatic complaints. After you rule out physiological causes– not only for these complaints but also for any underlying conditions that can produce depression or anxiety–what’s next?
Read ArticleFrom sponsoring a full training cohort to funding an individual scholarship, every dollar expands access to evidence-based mental health care in the communities that need it most.
Explore Ways to GiveGet the latest research, training updates, and practical tools
delivered to your inbox. Join thousands of clinicians working to
improve pediatric mental health outcomes.
Follow us on LinkedIn
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7. Individuals can call, text, or chat 988 to connect with trained crisis counselors. This month, we’ll be sharing resources…
Last week to register! Join REACH on September 18 for Collaborating with Schools in Pediatric Care, a one-day training designed to help clinicians more confidently address school-related behavioral health concerns. Participants will learn practical strategies for…
Nearly half of pediatric outpatient visits involve a behavioral health concern, yet many pediatricians report feeling unprepared to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. While new residency requirements represent an important step forward, there remains a…
Time is running out for primary care clinicians to join a CBT training in 2026 ⏰ The REACH Institute is offering two trainings for clinicians to learn practical, evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques they can…
GET IN TOUCH