More counsellors needed in schools
As children continue to experience a rise in mental health problems, teachers are calling for more counsellors, reports the Guardian website.
Exam pressure, family breakdowns and pressures to achieve the media-formulated ‘perfect body’ are all contributing to a deterioration in children’s mental health, causing anger, low self-esteem, irritability and lack of concentration.
Research carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers of over 700 school staff found that they were spending more time than ever helping children through emotional problems. 70% said they believe children face more pressure than they did ten years ago, with 80% attributing it to exam pressure, and three quarters blaming family break ups.
Whilst 73% of schools do have a counsellor, some believed they were over-stretched and unable to deal with the rising demand for them.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
While I understand the need for counsellers in schools, and the extreme pressure teachers are under, at this present time. Unfortuneatly as the need is on the increase, the funding is sadly lacking. Counselling young people is so valuable, with the aid of counselling a young person while attending school, this may ward off issue’s in the future.