Reply to Has you child ever taken a medical leave of absence for mental health issues?

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[quote=Anonymous]Actually, my friend did the opposite and kept their kid in school, although they did not have the amount of issues you posted.   They had some known anxiety and depression, but suddenly the kid was giving off signals that things were going downhill and  still they stayed.  They ended up with a suicide attempt.  It felt like at the time the parents wanted to keep up appearances (kid was in a top school) rather than have to explain why the kid was home.  Obviously, it didn't turn out well.  Your friends are smart bringing the kid back home.

It's kind of hard to give advice in this situation, especially since you don't really know the kid, but from my observations, keeping the kid somewhat busy is helpful.  Have them take a hobby class in something fun and interesting or do some volunteering work with youth sports or animals if there is an interest there or get a part time job, that sort of thing.  I think it helps to have a routine and a place to go where they aren't just sitting around staring at the walls while everyone they know is in school.  Have the dad engage and do some of these things with the kid if possible.  Spending some real time together supporting them and not bringing up everything they did wrong seemed helpful with my friend.  If the kid is reluctant to get behind peers in school, compromise and have them take 1 or 2 CC classes and commute, so that they can keep an eye on them while they get the help they need.

As far as what to say, it's really nobody's business, but nosy people will probably ask.  My friend asked me what to say when her large family started asking a bunch of questions, and I told her just to say that it turned out the school just wasn't a good fit and they are taking a semester off looking at their options.

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