YMHC Not Okay at School:
Parent Peer Support Group

This is a private peer support community hosted by Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) for parents, caregivers, and families supporting children and youth who are experiencing school attendance challenges, school avoidance, school distress, or barriers to education and learning.

This group provides a compassionate, non-judgmental space where families can connect with others who understand the challenges of supporting a child who is struggling to attend school. Members are encouraged to share experiences, ask questions, exchange practical strategies, and support one another while recognizing that every child's situation is unique.

At YMHC, we recognize that many students are not okay at school for reasons that extend far beyond simply not wanting to attend. Attendance challenges are a signal that a student's needs are not being met.

School attendance challenges can arise from many interconnected factors, including:

• Mental health challenges

• Neurodevelopmental differences

• Learning disabilities

• Trauma and adverse experiences

• Bullying and discrimination

• Physical health concerns

• Family and social stressors

• School climate and belonging

• Systemic barriers to accessing support

Rather than asking, "Why won't they go to school?", we encourage families, educators, and professionals to ask:

"What is making school difficult for this student, and how can we work together to help?"

We believe that students do well when they have the support, accommodations, relationships, and environments they need to succeed.

The YMHC Not Okay at School Parent Peer Support Group aims to:

• Provide hope, encouragement, and connection for parents and caregivers.

• Reduce isolation by connecting families with shared lived experiences.

• Promote compassionate, evidence-informed approaches to school attendance challenges.

• Share practical resources that support student mental health, well-being, and school engagement.

• Encourage collaboration between families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations.

• Advocate for inclusive, equitable, and supportive educational environments where every student feels safe, valued, and able to learn.

We believe:

• Every child deserves access to an education where they feel safe, respected, included, and supported.

• Attendance challenges are best understood through curiosity, compassion, and collaboration—not blame or punishment.

• Parents and caregivers are experts on their own children and are valued partners in finding solutions.

• Lived experience is an important source of knowledge.

• Mental health, belonging, and relationships are essential foundations for learning.

• Supporting the whole child leads to better educational and wellness outcomes.

This community is built on kindness, empathy, and respect.

Members agree to:

• Treat all members with respect.

• Maintain confidentiality and protect the privacy of others.

• Offer support without judgment.

• Respect that every family's experience is different.

• Avoid personal attacks, discrimination, or harassment.

• Share information responsibly and identify when advice is based on personal experience.

The administrators and moderators of this group include individuals with lived and learned experience. Discussions within this group are intended for peer support and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or legal advice.

If you have concerns about your child's physical or mental health, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.

This Facebook group is not a crisis service.

If you or your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis or is at risk of harm, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

If you are in Canada and need immediate mental health support, contact 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline by calling or texting 988, available 24 hours a day.

Youth Mental Health Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of children, youth, families, educators, and communities through education, prevention, early intervention, and evidence-informed resources.

Through education, collaboration, and lived experience, YMHC works to create school communities where every student feels connected, supported, and able to thrive.

Thank you for being part of this community. Together, we can support one another and help ensure that no family faces school attendance challenges alone.

This is a private peer support community hosted by Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) for parents, caregivers, and families supporting children and youth who are experiencing school attendance challenges, school avoidance, school distress, or barriers to education and learning.

This group provides a compassionate, non-judgmental space where families can connect with others who understand the challenges of supporting a child who is struggling to attend school. Members are encouraged to share experiences, ask questions, exchange practical strategies, and support one another while recognizing that every child's situation is unique.

This is a private peer support community hosted by Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) for parents, caregivers, and families supporting children and youth who are experiencing school attendance challenges, school avoidance, school distress, or barriers to education and learning.

This group provides a compassionate, non-judgmental space where families can connect with others who understand the challenges of supporting a child who is struggling to attend school. Members are encouraged to share experiences, ask questions, exchange practical strategies, and support one another while recognizing that every child's situation is unique.