Hundreds of Ontario principals say they need more help to support students’ mental health after a survey found the number of schools that didn’t have a psychologist to help kids nearly doubled over the past decade.
Nonpartisan advocacy group People for Education’s survey says 91 per cent of the 1,000 schools it surveyed noted they need support for students’ mental health and well-being.
While the pandemic has underscored demand for youth mental health support, a school principal says there are not enough mental health professionals to meet growing demand.
Patsy Agard, who is the president of the Ontario Principals’ Council, says the government could look to fast-track mental health workers in post-secondary programs and improve school access to community-based mental health staff and resources.
