Lunch & Learn: Interventions for Anxiety and School Avoidance

This workshop is designed to provide educators, school mental health professionals, administrators, and families with a deeper understanding of and practical tools and techniques for effectively supporting students struggling with acute anxiety. We will explore various types of anxiety disorders (including panic attacks), their impact on academic performance, and how to identify and address unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as school avoidance. Additionally, we will examine the role of parents in enabling or helping with these behaviors and how to collaborate with them to create a supportive environment for their child. By the end of this workshop, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of anxiety, as well as concrete strategies and resources for promoting a healthy and successful learning environment for students with anxiety.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the signs and symptoms of acute anxiety in students and understand how it can impact their academic success.
2. Learn how to effectively communicate with parents of students struggling with anxiety and collaborate with them to create a supportive environment.
3. Explore strategies for managing and diffusing panic attacks in the school setting.
4. Gain practical tools and techniques for promoting a positive and inclusive learning environment for students with anxiety.
5. Develop a deeper understanding of the role of unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as school avoidance, in students with acute anxiety, and learn how to address them effectively.