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Teen Truancy: The Causes, Consequences, and Mental Health Impact of School Absenteeism

Why are so many adolescents skipping school? Truancy, defined as any unexcused absence from school, has been rising among teenagers in recent years. Reasons for teen truancy include long-term impacts of the pandemic, problems at school or home, and mental health issues.

The causes and consequences of school absenteeism can be serious. Parents, schools, and mental health professionals need to intervene to discover what’s behind the truancy and help a teen who’s repeatedly missing school.

Key Takeaways

Truancy, defined as any unexcused absence from school without the knowledge of a student’s caregiver, has risen sharply among teenagers since the pandemic.
School truancy can be caused by mental health problems like trauma, anxiety, and depression, as well as academic disengagement and other problems at school or home.
Consequences of teen truancy include a decline in school performance, loneliness, low self-worth, increased mental health problems, potential increase in risky behaviors, and conflict between parents and teens.
To address repeated truancy, get to the root of the problem and access support from school and mental health professionals.

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