Private schools to get new psychologists from next year

The state’s peak private school body has responded to the worst student mental ill-health rates in 40 years, pledging $6m for new counsellors and psychologists.

Private schools increasingly concerned about suicidal students will hire more counsellors.

A growing number of independent schools across the state, particularly schools in the bush, have voiced grave concerns about students at risk of self-harming or committing suicide.

In response, the Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) will spend $6 million in the next two years hiring more school counsellors and psychologists.

Money will be made available within a fortnight for schools in regions deemed “high risk” including the Hunter, mid north coast, south coast, central west and Riverina.

Of the 50 private schools in those high-risk areas, 17 schools have recently sought assistance from AISNSW with issues relating to self-harm, suicidal ideation, or complex mental health difficulties and the remaining 33 schools have requested advice and support regarding student mental health difficulties.

“It is not only the volume of requests for support that have increased regarding individual student matters but the complexity of the risk factors that students are presenting with has increased too,” AISNSW Head of Student Services Lisa Ridings said.

“Regional schools, in particular, are finding it harder to access counselling. In some areas it can take up to three weeks to access critical counselling support.

“These grants are intended to help schools meet the demand from students requiring counselling services, whether it’s new services, or increase the school’s current counselling capacity.”

The state’s youth suicide rates are at their highest level in 15 years, with 54 people under the age of 18 dying by suicide in 2016 and 2017.

The Sunday Telegraph has recently reported on a number of youth suicide clusters in Sydney’s northern suburbs as well as Griffith and Kiama.

“In my 40-plus years in education, I have not seen the level of mental health and wellbeing issues facing students as high as it is now,” AISNSW chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe said.

“Some experts have warned of an increase in attempts at self-harm. We are aware of tragic consequences in some schools this year.”

One third of the funds for new counsellors for NSW private schools will come from the federal government.

“More and more we are relying on school to play an important role when it comes to the mental health and wellbeing of students,” Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said.

“We’re seeing more and more fragility in students’ mental health and we need to provide support.

“I have a very strong view a lot of it has to do with mobile phones, social media and the impact it’s having on young teenagers and especially young females.”

It comes after the state government announced 16 new fly-in fly-out psychologists for regional and rural schools that do not have dedicated school counsellors.