There's a phrase we want to retire from how schools and families talk about students: 'school refusal.' Not because the behavior isn't real — it absolutely is. But because the word 'refusal' implies a choice. And in 90%+ of cases, what looks like refusal is actually anxiety, OCD, sensory overload, Generated from MentalSpace School: Georgia K-12 Mental Health and Compliance Guide #MentalSpaceSchool #SchoolMentalHealth #K12Wellness #Podcast

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What gets in the way of a son telling his parents he's struggling? It's almost never one big thing. It's a stack of small ones: SHAME — 'I should be able to handle this. Real men do.' BURDEN FEAR — 'My mom's already stressed. I'm not going to add to it.' IMAGE MANAGEMENT — 'If I say it out loud, Generated from MentalSpace School: Georgia K-12 Mental Health and Compliance Guide #MentalSpaceSchool #SchoolMentalHealth #K12Wellness #Podcast

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If you're parenting a son right now, please sit with this one for a minute. According to WHO data released this year, three out of four young men who are struggling with their mental health do not tell their parents. They tell friends. They tell no one. They write it in private notes. They carry it Generated from MentalSpace School: Georgia K-12 Mental Health and Compliance Guide #MentalSpaceSchool #SchoolMentalHealth #K12Wellness #Podcast

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