Queensland classrooms in crisis as mental health issues take toll on teachers

Queensland teachers are calling for more support to deal with students’ mental health issues as claims emerge of students as young as Year 4 self harming in the classroom.

Teachers are calling for more support to deal with students’ mental health issues as claims emerge of students as young as Year 4 self harming in the classroom.

Crushed by the trauma of trying to support suicidal and self harming primary school students, former Brisbane teacher Michaela Ahern said she hasn’t been able to return to the career she loved.

The 43-year-old is suing the state government for $1.63 million in relation to claims of negligence against the Department of Education.

She had been teaching at Wellers Hill State School for more than a decade when incidents with students left her with a psychological injury, according to her claim filed with the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Michaela Ahern is suing the state government over claims she suffered PTSD and depression supporting suicidal primary school students in her role as a teacher. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The claim filed last month detailed an occasion in which a “hysterical” primary school student used sharp objects to self harm in the classroom and another in which a student threatened to jump off a balcony.

She claimed she received no follow-up or debriefing after the latter event nor had she received any training on how to deal with mental health episodes or suicidal ideation.

“By 2018, there were four students at the Wellers Hill State School under supervision described as ‘suicide watch’ and a student in Year 4 who self harmed within the classroom,” her statement of claim said.

Mrs Ahern believed mental health issues were growing more prevalent among young children and teachers needed more support as first responders.

She likened the current system to trying to stop a leaking pipe with your hand.

“You cannot keep it blocked with your hand forever, you need a plumber, and the water needs to be turned off,” she said.

“You need to bring in a specialist to look at why the pipe burst and there are often bigger problems that need investigating.

“Unfortunately, teachers are being left to hold the pipe until the next teacher for the following year comes along and then the broken pipe is passed on- except this are our future generation, our babies.”

Mrs Ahern is among a growing number of teachers who have been successful in claiming WorkCover benefits for a psychological injury.

During the 2010-11 financial year, the Education Department accepted 102 psychological WorkCover claims, which jumped by 30 per cent by 2019-20 to 133 accepted claims.

Queensland Teachers’ Union President Cresta Richardson told The Courier-Mail that the union began providing professional development courses in trauma informed practices, in response to an increased demand for more specialised training.

“These courses are regularly oversubscribed and an investment by the department in a systems wide professional development would be welcomed by members,” she said.

“We are also aware that school leaders are significantly overworked and have rehabilitation of employees as an additional responsibility that the Department requires them to perform.

“Unfortunately without a true assessment of workload expectations of school leaders issues such as these will continue to present themselves.”

The Independent Education Union Queensland and Northern Territory has also noticed a rise in reports of behavioural issues among students with branch secretary Terry Burke saying the problem had recently been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We need solutions that will help the whole school community and would welcome wider consideration of how this can be done,” he said.

“Particularly, we would endorse increased numbers of qualified mental health workers in schools as well as school employers providing quality professional development and training to all staff members in regard to this issue.”

Lawyer Rachel Last from Travis Schultz and Partners said Mrs Ahern’s case highlighted the need for better processes.

“Until we start seeing better managed resources within our schools to be able to implement and adhere strictly to mental health and wellbeing policies, our teachers will be forced to continue to put their own wellbeing on the line for the sake of our children,” she said.

Lawyer Rachel Last says there's a need for better processes to identify and address childhood mental illness.

Mrs Ahern’s claim for damages included loss of earning capacity, pharmaceutical expenses for depressants and mood-stabilisers, and psychotherapy.

She said her relationships with family and friends have been impacted and she can’t even do the school run without feeling anxious.

“The financial loss of not being able to work puts huge pressure and strain on my family,” she said.

“I’m only in my early 40s and to have to try and start again or even contemplate a new career is scary, daunting, and unfortunately not even possible given the severity of my psychological injuries.

“Not to mention how much it breaks my heart that I’m not able to do the one thing I believe I was born to do.”

The Department of Education declined to comment given the matter was still before the courts.

To find help with topics mentioned in this story, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.