In Case You Haven't Heard…

A new national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, founded by Nationwide Children's Hospital, reveals nearly a third of parents (30%) whose child missed school due to fear or anxiety last year reported their child missed more than a week of school, MSN reported last week. The national survey of more than 1,000 parents across the United States also reveals roughly two out of five students who missed school (42%) say they don't feel physically well enough to attend, and one in five say they are too exhausted to attend (20%). According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 28% of children experience school avoidance — most commonly among 10–13‐year‐olds and children transitioning to different schools. “School avoidance can happen for multiple reasons. Kids may have social concerns, like bullying or feeling like they do not fit in. They could be worried about test taking or having to speak in front of the class,” said Ariana Hoet, executive clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's. This survey was conducted online from July 11 to July 14, 2025, and 1,015 U.S. parents with a child under age 18 were surveyed.