Mental health, inflation, causes of chronic absenteeism at San Diego Unified

San Diego Unified is seeing a big jump in chronic absenteeism this year, with some parents blaming mental health for their students missing days, CBS8 reported.

In the year before the pandemic, the number of students classified as chronically absent, or missing 10% or more of school days, was at 12.4%. That number is now 36.7%.

San Diego Unified officials list sickness, mental health, housing and food insecurities, lack of transportation and inflation as the causes, and say the problem has gotten worse at schools across the U.S.

Michael Lardon, a psychiatrist, is hearing some parents are keeping kids home for mental health days. He said the best thing to do is seek help from a professional or a school guidance counselor.

The district said it’s working to find solutions and ways to support families so students can regularly attend school, according to CBS8.