Changing schools

[Catdog321]

My son is 13 and is depressed. He is convinced he is ill and that is the cause of all his problems. We have been to doctors and specialists who have given clean bill of health. Refuses any sort of councelling . And now is refusing school. Has been really unhappy at this school. I am thinking of transferring him to a new school but am unsure if this would make problem worse. He lives in hope that I will die and won't make him do anything.

[Heyho111]

This sounds so difficult for both of you. If he is really unhappy at school changing school is a good idea but I think his depression needs to be tackled first.
I feel from what you've said your gp isn't sorting the depression. Could you make an appt in his name with your gp and just you go. Choose a good one. Tell them how low he is. That he may need more than councelling. Anti depressants may be something that could be needed for a while then councling when he is in a better place. You could then look at moving him.
I would lean on your gp for some help.

[exasperatedemma]

If he is unhappy at school, explore it more with him as to why - is the teachers/schoowork/friends - does he have a good group or one or two friends that he trusts? is he overwhelmed by the size of the school etc etc. I say this from experience with my DD who is now 16 and she changed schools last year. Not something you want to do at 15 as it is harder to fit in, but it was the best thing we did. She had been unhappy there but managing to hide it well since she was 12. It got worse and worse and just wasn't going to get better. She is now in a small private school (we are skint now!) but it saved her life. literally. find out more and don't leave it too long. We did and nearly lost our DD.