By Anna Prytz
Psychologists are seeing a "huge increase" in children being moved onto mental health plans to deal with the stresses of lockdown and remote schooling.
Families and schools say they are increasingly addressing children's mental health issues amid stage four restrictions, while some parents are pushing to get all students back to classrooms to repair the damage of Melbourne's hard lockdown.
Year 11 student Katie Massey says easy access to mental health support is important.Credit: Justin McManus
Rebecca Thomas, whose company Shine Bright Psychology works in schools across greater Melbourne, said more families had been seeking mental health plans for children during lockdown.
"It has been a huge increase, we can't keep up with the workload," she said.
"Definitely lots of kids were doing fine before and are now really struggling. I think parents will see a significant change in a short period of time once kids are back in their usual school routine."
Ms Thomas said providing support remotely via phone and video chats had been challenging for psychologists.
"When you've got them in a school environment, it's so much easier to engage them," she said.
"Daniela", who asked not to use her real name, said her eight-year-old son had been an engaged student before the outbreak of coronavirus but was now on a mental health plan to manage his anxiety.
She said she had taken her son to a GP after he had developed symptoms including sleeplessness and feeling sick at night while thinking about remote learning the next day.
"These worries have never been there before," she said.
Calls to the Kids Helpline have been rising in Victoria, while a UNICEF national survey of 1000 teenagers found students in Melbourne felt the least able to cope during the pandemic.
Northcote High School year 11 student Katie Massey said her family and school had prioritised mental health, and she knew if she started struggling she could quickly access help.
"Nobody's thriving in this pandemic," she said. "Everyone's struggling a little bit, but I think some people take it harder than others."
Of the support available, she added: "I'm pretty good, I haven't done it myself, but there are ways at school. They're pretty good with mental health and they prioritise it pretty well, especially in older students.
"They would set up a Zoom meeting for someone if it was particularly bad or whatever, so I know it's there if anyone needs. I know I'm privileged with a good family and a good support system from school."
The state government announced late last week that it would spend an additional $28.5 million to bolster mental health programs in primary, secondary and specialist schools, and fast-track new initiatives that would be rolled out over coming months.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino said they knew how tough Victoria's restrictions were on families.
VCE, VCAL, specialist and prep to grade 2 students in metropolitan Melbourne will begin a staged return to classrooms in term four from October 5.
A parent-run campaign to have schools reopen for all students has gained more than 13,000 signatures on a change.org petition.
"This is not a solution, that the children just don't go to school. It's not sustainable," said campaigner Amanda Morgan.
Ms Morgan said her three children were struggling outside school. "My year 11, she's disengaging. My grade six is in tears frequently because they get confusing instructions."
Opposition education spokeswoman Cindy McLeish has joined the call for the safe return of all students to face-to-face learning.
"The emotional toll on children being away from school and their friends cannot be underestimated," she said.
Education expert Professor Pasi Sahlberg said there was hope for struggling families.
"In the end, this academic part they may have lost is not the most significant thing; wellbeing is much more important," he said. "Turn the conversations into positive ones. What have they gained in the past six months?"
Tips to help children (from Professor Sahlberg and Dr Peggy Kern)
- Validate their feelings
- Help them remember previous hardships they have overcome
- Make time for play
- Set guidelines on technology use
- Be a role model for all this behaviour
If you or anyone you know needs support call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue's coronavirus mental wellbeing support service on 1800 512 348.