ESBNA information for young people
Everyone feels anxious or worried about school or college sometimes. This is normal, Anxieties are part of life and learning to deal with them is part of growing up However, sometimes anxiety or constant worrying can become a problem especially when it stops us doing what we want or need to do. If you have high levels of anxiety and worry about attending school, you may be experiencing Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA).
You most definitely are not alone and there is lots of useful information which can help you to find the best ways to help support yourself with this.
Some signs of EBSNA
- Getting head or stomach aches
- Feeling unsure
- Feeling bad tempered
- Worrying about relationships
- Struggling to sleep
- Feeling scared
- Feeling depressed
- 'Autistic Burnout'
Remember you are not alone many children and young people feel this way
We understand that it can be hard to start a conversation about how you are feeling sometimes as you may be worried about the reaction you will get. You may be surprised to know that your parent/carer or teacher may already have an idea that you are finding things difficult and it may be an easy conversation to have. It's important to tell your family and school how you feel so they can support you. There is no wrong way to do so and you might like to write a letter or send a text to say how you are feeling.
You may wish to complete a support plan (.docx) which can be used to support you think through how support can be individualised to support your needs. This can be completed independently, with a parent/carer, trusted adult or with friends. This plan can be shared with school/college to help create a package of ongoing support.
You can also let them know about this webpage so they can come and look at the resources for parent/carers and schools.
Some of these services might also be able to help you:
| Name | Description | Age ranges covered |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey Libraries Reading well | Self help books can be very effective when read on their own. Reading Well is designed to give practical information and advice while encouraging self-awareness and understanding of individual health issues including anxiety. | All |
| Mindworks Surrey | Help and support for children and young people in Surrey who are feeling very sad, worried, angry or upset. They also help parents or carers so that they can help their children. | 0 to 18 |
| The Mindworks 24/7 mental health crisis line | Available for children and young people who are worried about themself, a friend, or for parents worried about their child or young person. It can be contacted on 0800 915 4644, is open all day and all night, seven days a week. | 0 to 18 |
| CYP Haven | Safe spaces for young people to drop into to talk about worries and mental health confidentially. There is also a phone service and virtual workshops operating alongside the face-to-face sessions. The opening times and phone number are listed on their website. | 0 to 18 |
| Kooth | A free, anonymous, confidential, safe, online wellbeing service, offering counselling, information, and forums for children and young people aged 11 to 18. | 11 to 18 |
| Childline | A free, private, and confidential service for children and young people where you can talk about anything. The phone service 0800 1111 operates between 9am and midnight. | 0 to 18 |
| SHOUT | A 24/7 text service, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It is a place to go if you are struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Text 85258 (24/7) | All |
| Papyrus | A service providing confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide. | 0 to 18 |
| The Mix | Provides information, support and listening for people under 25. They can be contacted by phone 0808 808 4994 (24 hours) | 0 to 24 |
| Extended Hope | The service is available for young people over the age of 11, who are facing an emotional or mental health crisis. It operates between 5-11pm, 7 days a week and can be accessed through the Emergency Duty Team on 01483 517898. | 11 to 18 |
Please remember, in the case of an emergency, call 999 or 112 from a mobile.