School staff can help kids’ mental health through new online register

Children as young as those in preschool are experiencing mental health issues — but a new register will give school staff direct access to support options to help their students.

Children as young as those in preschool are experiencing depression and other mental health issues exacerbated by the pandemic, but it’s hoped a new platform will offer teachers more support options.

St Marys Public School principal Rob Lindas said a lack of connection had caused emotional problems in students to spike during Covid.

“We are seeing students needing that extra level of support for their emotions in children as young as the preschool we have onsite, right through to year six,” Mr Lindas said.

“Increasingly with lockdowns and a lack of connection, we’re seeing more anxiety and worry, sadness and depression, and children who are ­having trouble building positive ­relationships.

“We teach the whole child, not just literacy and numeracy, and we know that learning and wellbeing go hand-in-hand. This platform will help us meet our moral purpose and also ease the burden on staff who were having to research these programs.”

St Marys Public School is among those that will have access to the register. Pictured are students Tylan Grimes-Trindall and Raven Crick, both five, with teacher Lisa Pfeiffer. Picture: Julian Andrews

Professor Ian Hickie from the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre said depression showed differently in younger children.

“They’re not going to tell you how they’re feeling, so it’ll show more in their temperament, tummy aches, ­difficulty settling and that sort of thing,” Prof Hickie said.

“Ages three to five and then the early primary school years are critical for learning social skills and connection outside the family home.

“During Covid that didn’t happen, plus there was a fearfulness of contact, so we’re seeing a cohort now that is socially and emotionally immature.”

The new online register will ­connect NSW school staff with external providers of vetted, evidence-based programs.

Education and Early Learning Minister Sarah Mitchell said it would allow teachers and counsellors to provide immediate and ongoing support to students.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell. Picture: John Appleyard

“We are making the process of ­selecting high quality student wellbeing programs as simple as possible and helping to reduce the administration burden for our schools,” Ms Mitchell said.

“The NSW Government is committed to continuing to prioritise and invest in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students.

“Schools play a key role in supporting student wellbeing, which is so vital to the development of children and young people, both socially and ­academically.”

Programs available via the register will be assessed by an expert panel with a focus on positive student ­behaviour, developing resilience and strengthening belonging.

The register will help school staff identify the most appropriate support for each student. Picture: Julian Andrews

Schools will have the ability to directly select and provide feedback on wellbeing programs through the platform.

Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said it was part of continued ­investment in youth mental health and said the program was a “gamechanger”.

“The NSW Government is injecting a record amount of funding into a range of new and innovative mental health and wellbeing initiatives for our young people like our Safeguard teams and school wellbeing nurses,” Ms Taylor said.

“I’m pleased that the new register will allow schools to access additional resources more easily.

“In addition to this, we work ­closely with a range of organisations such as headspace and Wellways to deliver suicide prevention programs for young people.”