A County Armagh mother has set up a support group for parents of children who refuse to attend school due to anxiety and stress, after her own daughter spent 18 months in what she described as burnout.

Catherine, a single mother of three from Portadown, said her daughter began getting ill around the time she was in P5 at primary school. She developed sore heads, sore throats and stomach aches, and the symptoms progressed to vomiting every morning before school. The girl was admitted to hospital that Christmas and spent a few weeks being monitored for medical issues, but after her release it was suggested she was anxious.

Her attendance declined further in P6, and on 28 March 2025 Catherine was called to collect her from school because she was not able to manage. The girl did not return to school afterwards, apart from a morning check-in with key adults done from the family car.

Catherine, who worked for the Education Authority as a behaviour support assistant for more than 20 years, reduced her hours to cope. She said the family was extremely distressed and did not know where to turn for support. She felt she might lose her job because of the time off needed to support her daughter.

She contacted Parentline one Thursday morning, and said the person on the phone arranged support through Barnardo's for her daughter and herself, and gave her options for advice and support. Educational psychology became involved through the school, and they helped navigate emotionally based school non-attendance. Many agencies would not do home visits, but educational psychologists came to the home and worked with the child. The girl received a statement of special educational needs in October 2025.

The child was referred to the autism team and is awaiting assessment for PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and autism. Catherine said girls are particularly good at masking, and many children with school refusal later receive autism diagnoses.

In June 2026, with support from CYPSP and Parentline representatives, Catherine set up a support group for parents of children with emotionally based school non-attendance, extended to parents of children with autism. The group met most recently on November 17 at Tim Hortons in Portadown at 7.30pm.

A film called 'Unauthorised Absence' is due for release on November 10, and Catherine hopes parents can watch it at the next meeting. She said the aim is to raise awareness of the issue and help parents and children feel more seen.

For more information, parents can email catherinemullan76@gmail.com.