Mind Matters

  Dr Zoheb Raj, MD For a child, saying "I don't want to go to school" is a common morning refrain. But when that refusal evolves into chronic distress, physical symptoms, and persistent absences, it crosses the line into School Refusal Behavior (SRB) . As a psychiatrist, I want parents and educators to understand that this is not a sign of poor discipline or simple defiance; it is almost always a signal of underlying emotional or psychological distress that requires clinical attention. School Refusal: A Cry for Help, Not a Choice School refusal is defined by difficulty attending school or remaining in school for an entire day, often accompanied by severe emotional distress (anxiety, panic) and physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches) that disappear once the child is allowed to stay home. Crucially, the child is typically not refusing to learn or to socialize; they are refusing to cope with the environment that triggers their distress. The ultimate goal of the child...