Heightened anxiety, loneliness and eating disorders are among the “most common” mental health issues among secondary school students, a survey published on Wednesday finds.
Emerging issues also include significant over-use of social media, increased incidence of eating disorders and disrupted sleep patterns, the survey from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ education and youth service Walk in My Shoes finds.
The study draws on responses from 55 student counsellors in secondary schools across Ireland.
There were asked the most common mental health issues they are seeing among teenagers.
RM Block
“Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health difficulty ... (cited by 94 per cent of respondents), followed by self-harming behaviours and suicidal ideation (61 per cent) and low mood and depression (55 per cent),” the study said.
Other frequently cited difficulties included loneliness and social isolation (39 per cent), eating disorders or disordered eating behaviour (39 per cent) and bullying (30 per cent).
Almost half the counsellors (48 per cent) also cited ADHD as contributing to young people’s mental health difficulties.
“Many also observed a decline in students’ ability to cope with everyday stressors, attributing this to factors such as social media influence, phone misuse and disrupted sleep patterns,” said the survey.
It pointed to areas requiring greater focus, including school refusal and neurodiversity.
Carol McCormack, clinical nurse manager at the service’s Willow Grove adolescent unit in Dublin 8, said: “With students across the country returning to school this [month], the publication of these findings ... is a timely reminder for us to reflect on the difficulties many young people can experience with their mental health, and the important role that schools can play in nurturing and fostering positive mental health among their students.”
She said research indicated 50 per cent of mental health presentations begin by the age of 14.
“Guidance counsellors expressed strong demand for age-appropriate, evidence-based resources,” she said.
“Furthermore, ongoing training for school staff – extending beyond guidance counsellors to the entire school community – was highlighted as a top priority, particularly in early intervention, anxiety management and strategies to engage parents effectively.”
Paul Gilligan, chief executive of St Patrick’s mental health services, said: “Every child has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
“Schools and teaching staff, in partnership with parents, peers, families and young people themselves, have a key part to play in this.”
For support: Samaritans on freephone 116 123 or text HELLO to 50808. Pieta freephone: 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444. Or visit yourmentalhealth.ie
