COVID pandemic making students anxious, depressed, with suicide fears, new report finds

Burnt-out teachers are demanding more counsellors and psychiatrists as COVID’s tragic toll on students is revealed.

Natasha BitaNational Education Editor

3 min read

February 15, 2021 - 1:42PM

News Corp Australia Network

Mental Health 360: An investigation bringing together those touched by suicide

Exclusive: Stressed students are self-harming, as burnt-out teachers demand more counsellors and psychiatrists to help traumatised teenagers.

National Mental Health Commission chief executive Christine Morgan yesterday warned the COVID-19 pandemic is making young Australians anxious and depressed.

Ms Morgan, who is also national suicide prevention adviser to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said children and young people are suffering due to repeated lockdowns, lifestyle restrictions and disruptions to school and sport.

“I’m concerned about increases in self-harm among young people – that is a sign of distress – and I’m concerned about … suicidal risk,’’ she told News Corp Australia.

Burnt-out teachers have demand more counsellors and psychiatrists to help traumatised teenagers. Picture: iStock

Commission data reveals that Lifeline, Kids Helpline and Beyond Blue fielded a record 112,000 calls for help last month – 23 per cent more than in January 2020, before the start of the pandemic, and 38 per cent more than in January 2019.

Ms Morgan said high school principals had raised concerns about the “increasing number of young people at risk’’.

“For teenagers, this is the time in your life when you’re finding your place, pushing against parental restrictions and wanting to find networks,’’ she said.

“A lot of that has been impacted not just by lockdowns but a sense of ‘my future is being impacted by something I can’t control’.

“(The COVID-19 restrictions) impact on their ability to engage with others, to make choices, it impacts their families, their school and their future.’’

Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe said all schools need qualified counsellors on staff, as children and teenagers wait months to see psychologists or psychiatrists for help with high anxiety or depression.

Ms Haythorpe said a “significant number’’ of teenagers had dropped out of school as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns last year.

But she warned there were not enough school counsellors, or outside psychologists and psychiatrists, to “make sure students have access to the help they need’’.

“Teachers shouldn’t give psychological advice – they should refer students to appropriate services, but we need to have the appropriate services in place,’’ she said.

“There is not enough provision of services.’’

Caitlin O'Connor, 21, said she lost her job as a swimming instructor and was home alone for eight hours a day, which made her feel very anxious and depressed. Picture: Supplied

University student Caitlin O’Connor, 21, turned to the University of South Australia counselling service and the online e-headspace service, as well as exercise and yoga, after COVID-19 restrictions shut down the campus last year, when she temporarily lost her job as a swimming instructor.

Ms O’Connor, now in her third year of a degree in social work, urged young people to reach out for help.

She said 2020 was “really overwhelming and totally affected my mental health’’.

“It was a completely new normal,’’ she said yesterday.

“I had to refinance everything and then work out a new routine and there was literally nowhere to go.

“I really did enjoy the university lifestyle of going to class and seeing friends and coming into the library.

“(When the campus closed last year) it was really lonely – I was physically by myself eight hours a day, five days a week without seeing my friends and family.

“FaceTime and social media is not the same as seeing everyone face-to-face and giving them a hug and going out places.’’

Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe said all schools need qualified counsellors on staff. Picture: Supplied

Ms Haythorpe said not all schools have counsellors on staff.

“We need to have fully trained and qualified counsellors in schools, with teaching qualifications, who can work with children around anxiety and mental health issues,’’ she said.

“At the end of last year teachers were chronically fatigued in terms of the pandemic, looking after student health and wellbeing, and managing their own needs.’’

Stress on teachers during the pandemic has also been exposed by University of Sydney Associate Professor Rachel Wilson, in a study for the Centre for Strategic Education.

The study found that teachers were overworked with extra hours, student welfare issues and paperwork, and anxious about the risk of catching COVID-19 in classrooms.

At least half of teachers were not confident students were learning well, and felt most students were “not positively engaged’’ with online classes.

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