Over the past few years, we’ve seen a worrying trend: more young people are missing school, and more are struggling with their mental health. A new study (May 2025) by Dr Megan Arnot for the Department for Education (DfE) helps us understand how these two issues are linked – and why it matters.
Key Takeaways
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Poor mental health can lead to missing more school – especially when absences are authorised (like due to illness or appointments).
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Wellbeing matters too, but its impact on absence isn’t as strong or consistent.
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Family life, school enjoyment, and teacher relationships all play a big role in how often pupils show up to class.
What Did the Study Look At?
The researchers followed thousands of teenagers in England from ages 13 to 16. They combined survey data with school attendance records to explore if mental health problems cause students to miss school – not just whether they’re linked.
They used a mental health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and asked students about their general wellbeing (life satisfaction, happiness, etc.). Then, they compared this with how often those students were absent from school.
The Mental Health Link
The results were clear: students with worse mental health were more likely to miss school – especially for authorised reasons. That might include staying home because of feeling unwell, dealing with stress, or attending health appointments.
Interestingly, unauthorised absences (like skipping school without permission) weren’t strongly linked to mental health. These types of absences were better predicted by other things, like family background and behaviour.
What About Wellbeing?
The study also looked at how happy or satisfied students felt. Although those with lower wellbeing were slightly more likely to miss school, the link wasn’t strong enough to draw firm conclusions.
One reason might be that wellbeing measures reflect how you felt yesterday, while mental health measures look at ongoing struggles. So, wellbeing might not be the best predictor of school attendance.
Other Influences on Absence
It’s not all about mental health. The research also found that students were more likely to be absent if:
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They came from single-parent or low-income households
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They had special educational needs or long-term health issues
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They didn’t enjoy school or had poor relationships with teachers
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They’d been bullied or used substances like cannabis
Why Does This Matter?
Missing school doesn’t just affect grades. It can also impact mental health, future job prospects, and social development. By understanding the reasons behind absenteeism, schools and policymakers can better support young people – especially those struggling with mental health.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This study shows that mental health really does affect school attendance. The key takeaway? Early support for young people’s mental health is essential. Preventing problems before they grow worse could help keep more students in school and on track for a brighter future.
For a more detailed exploration of the data and methodologies employed, you can access the full report here: Relationship between mental ill health and absence in students aged 13 to 16 – GOV.UK .
