資料來源：精神科專科醫生梁婉珊
在數個月前，一位女孩子開始不願上學，最初只是不願上學而已，但過了數個星期後她便躲在房間裡，飲食和睡覺都出現了問題，之後更變得很煩躁，有一些負面思想，甚至不能呼吸、呼吸不順以及開始有些緊張，晚上又不睡覺，又要媽媽陪她，但她的媽媽都要上班，不能處理便來求診。孩子不願上學令很多家長都感到很焦急，因為不上課一兩天仍可接受，但一至兩個月不上學便開始跟不上，而且亦沒有參與考試，可能會留班，所以這是很多家長感到很頭痛的問題。
其實不上學只是一個表癥，最重要是要了解背後的原因。這個是真的需要深入了解，一般不上學是可以分幾個原因的，可能是社交出現問題、被欺凌，也可能是他本來就很害羞，其他人都不理睬他，令他難以接受。但亦可能是因為學業問題，又或是有專注力不足的問題。另外他可能被焦慮或抑鬱症問題困擾著，有些個案可能過了數年也沒人發現。
若沒有及時處理以上問題，到了最後便爆發起來，他真的受不了便不願意上學。小朋友不願上學，亦有可能是家中的原因、家庭的關係或Family Dynamics (家庭動力)產生了變化，令他用不願上學來引起家長注意。
Source: Psychiatrist, Dr. Leung Yuen Shan
Several months ago, a girl began refusing to go to school. Initially, it was just a reluctance to attend school, but after a few weeks, she started hiding in her room, experiencing issues with eating and sleeping. Later on, she became very irritable, had negative thoughts, and even had difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and started feeling anxious. She also couldn’t sleep at night and wanted her mom to be with her, but her mother had to work and couldn’t stay with her, so she sought medical advice. A child’s refusal to attend school is causing a lot of anxiety for many parents. Skipping school for a day or two may be acceptable, but not attending for one to two months can result in falling behind in studies, and the child may miss exams, potentially leading to grade retention. This is a problem that many parents find distressing.
In fact, not attending school is just a symptom, and the most important thing is to understand the underlying reasons. There can be several reasons for not attending school, such as social issues, bullying, shyness, academic problems, or attention deficit problems. Additionally, anxiety and depression could be bothering the child, and in some cases, it may go unnoticed for years.
If these issues are not addressed in a timely manner, they can build up, and the child may eventually become unable to cope and refuse to go to school. A child’s reluctance to attend school can also be linked to family issues, changes in family dynamics, or changes in the home environment as a way to seek attention.”
這幾種原因都有機會引致他不上學，我們最重要是不要馬上跳到總結，下一個結論。若家長直指是他懶惰，不願面對、想逃避，所以才不願上學，這樣小朋友會有更大的壓力。反而我們要用同理心的角度，協助小孩慢慢拆解，但很多時候難度就是他們未必願意說出口，因為他們自己也未必知道原因。你問他，他又不會說出來，或者他會回答你說不知道，令家長便很難處理。家長不要這樣就放棄，也不要用一個批評的方式。
家長千萬不要過分強迫他，盡量用朋友方式的態度和他傾談，引導他說出背後的原因，他面對的難題是在哪個範疇。因為當你掌握這件事的資訊是非常重要，你強迫他，他便會關起來，甚麼也不跟你說，之後會更加難處理。因為我也遇過很多個案，你強迫他，試過怎樣都要拉他上學，之後真的帶他到學校去，其後孩子便責怪父母為何要拉他上學，令他之後這麼害怕。
首先我們不要做一些很激烈的動去強迫他，嘗試了解他背後的原因。如果他開始逐漸願意說話，那就是一個good sign（好的訊號）。但如果覺得力不從心，好像打不開他的口，但他真的愈來愈抗拒上學，那時候我們建議你尋求專業人士的協助，協助你找出問題的原因。
These various reasons could all lead to him not going to school. The most important thing for us is not to jump to conclusions and the next judgment. If parents point out directly that he is lazy, unwilling to face, and wants to avoid going to school, it will only put more pressure on the child. Instead, we should approach it with empathy and help the child gradually break down the issue. Many times, the difficulty lies in the fact that they may not be willing to speak out because they may not even know the reasons themselves. When you ask him, he won’t say, or he may answer that he doesn’t know, which can be challenging for parents. Parents should not give up in this situation, and they should not use a critical approach.
Parents must not excessively force him. Try to have a conversation with him in a friendly manner and guide him to reveal the underlying reasons and the specific challenges he faces. Because it is crucial to have this information, if you force him, he will shut down and not communicate with you, making it even more challenging later on. I’ve encountered many cases where parents tried everything to get their child to school, and when they finally did, the child blamed their parents for forcing them to go to school, which made them even more afraid later.
First, we should avoid using intense actions to force him and try to understand the reasons behind his behavior. If he starts to gradually open up and talk, that’s a good sign. But if you feel that it’s too difficult to get through to him, and he’s becoming increasingly resistant to going to school, that’s when we recommend seeking professional help to identify the root causes of the problem.
