What is Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)?

EBSA is a broad term used to describe the behaviours of a child or young person who shows persistent worries about school-related issues, struggles significantly in attending school or being in class, due to heightened levels of emotions such as anxiety. EBSA is not a diagnostic term.

Other terms such as “anxiety-based school avoidance” (ABSA), “emotionally based school non-attendance” (EBSNA), “anxiety-related non-attendance” (ARNA) and “emotionally based barriers to school attendance” (EBBSA) are sometimes used. Over time this avoidance often exacerbates their school-based worries through adding additional factors such as missed schoolwork and missed social experiences which creates a perpetuating cycle.

This can result in significant absence from school and impacts the child or young person’s learning, relationships, and well-being.