Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/antoniodiaz

Vast majority of principals say austerity has undermined mental health support for students

The results of a survey show how a moratorium on hiring has affected schools.

OVER 80% OF PRINCIPALS believe that austerity has worsened mental health supports in schools, according to survey results commissioned by a teachers union.

The results of the survey, commissioned by secondary school teachers’ union ASTI, found that 82% a principals believe that a moratorium on middle-management jobs in schools has undermined pastoral care structures in schools.

Pastoral care is the emotional support typically delivered by class tutors or year heads in schools – staff that focus on student well-being and engagement and watch out for things like attendance and monitor at-risk behaviour.

Due to measures introduced in the wake of the recession, however, schools have found it impossible to keep up these posts.

The result being that schools have lost an average of six middle-management posts (called posts of responsibility) since 2009.

Due to this, principals feel that care structures have been undermined and over 40% believe that Department of Education guidelines on student mental health are not adequately implemented in their schools.

The survey was taken by 1,749 principals, deputy principals and teachers across the country between January and February of this year.

Public health concern

Commenting on the survey, ASTI president Máire G Ní Chíarba said that the research was “unequivocal” in its conclusion that pastoral care structures were “substantially undermined” by austerity measures.

“The wellbeing of young people is a major public health concern which is widely reported in the media,” she said.

However, it is not a priority when it comes to education policy. Supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health requires more than procedures and guidelines, it requires adequate ‘human’ resources at school level. The very resources which students need to support their wellbeing have been greatly diminished in schools.

Key results of the survey are:

  • 82% of principals say that the moratorium on middle-management posts has undermined pastoral care structures.
  • 40% of principals report that Department of Education guidelines on student mental health are not adequately implemented in their schools.
  • 78% of teachers say that they have more administrative duties to complete compared to last year.
  • 90% say that being able to help young people is a key source of job satisfaction.
  • There is a 20% drop in teachers who say that they are ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with their job since 2009.

Read: ‘As a gay teacher I felt I had to switch my partner from a ‘he’ to a ‘she’, I felt ashamed’

Read: This sign in Irish Oscar winner Ben Cleary’s playschool shows teachers never forget

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
16 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Arthur
    Favourite Joe Arthur
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 9:50 AM

    Mental Health funding is one of the first things that gets pulled when an economy gets into trouble. There’s little immediate impact, classic political short-termism (where is the incentive for long term vision?)

    But of course, pulling funding on Mental Health has a significant long term cost to society, which only reveals itself years later.

    And we’re just about to reap what we sowed.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Hurley
    Favourite Patrick Hurley
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 10:07 AM

    Same with education, health, disability, roads, gardai, firefighters, the arts, housing, university funding and everything else that was cut. Everything was cut . Everything.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Falltrades
    Favourite Jack Falltrades
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 11:18 AM

    I agree with your point but at the same time I think people need to stop being so soft and offended by absolutely everything in society. No wonder people feel down if they are complaining and feeling offended most hours of the day.

    13
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Falltrades
    Favourite Jack Falltrades
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 11:21 AM

    Life is class and you only get one shot at it. Think about problems you had as you were growing up when you thought yr life was in ruins, things always change and get better if you give things time and keep your mind occupied.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TDV
    Favourite TDV
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 11:09 AM

    people have been warning about this since 2008/’09/’10/’11/’12/’13/’14/’15!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TDV
    Favourite TDV
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 11:11 AM

    where are the cuts to the wages, perks, massive pensions and all the rest enjoyed by those making the cuts against our vital public services??

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Glasgow
    Favourite Ann Glasgow
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 10:55 AM

    to address the article, there are many children, second level/third level students going to school or college hungry and that is a fact, our government,dept of ed and others simply want to refuse that it is the case and here lies the problem! there are children/young people dealing with parents and family members that are loosing the will to live either because they are trying to hold on to a family home and pay the ever increasing taxes/bills that an ordinary wage just cant sustain.

    how can a child/ student in education concentrate going to school hungry and cold and go home to face cold and hunger and everything else that goes on in a highly stressed household……

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Hurley
    Favourite Patrick Hurley
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 9:41 AM

    Can we not just agree that austerity affected practically everyone in this state? Do we need endless reports that are really just wasting more money to tell us how every subset of the population feels about it? We were practically all affected. That’ll be 50000 euro please.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dell
    Favourite Dell
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 11:02 AM

    I guess Patrick if people don’t do these things and basically shout loud, they won’t get help? Every organisation is basically making bids for public funding. It’s a horrible situation and every one of them deserve the help they are asking for.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Glasgow
    Favourite Ann Glasgow
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 10:48 AM

    @ bill madden…..i understand the point you are making and certainly would agree that resilience is something many from this generation seem to lack. however, bill i think you are a little too harsh….living in the 21st century is not easy and our young have many issues that our generation didnt have to deal with..( before some one pulls me up….i am aware of WW1/WW2 ) and living in that era also brought many difficultie”s ….the piece where you use “grab a rope” is difficult as a family member used this method and i have dealt with the fall out of suicide with families in the city where i live and i can assure you the issues why people may have done what they did was not down to the reaction of a “selfie”!!!……i really do understand your frustration regarding self responsibility and handouts, i work in the community and am really tired of hearing ” i am entitled to” and its my “human right” but regarding depression, mental health and taking ones life i have to disagree with you.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Jones
    Favourite Declan Jones
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 2:47 PM

    So sick of hearing about how life is so tough for the boo hoo generation. Are we to believe that before this generation life was so easy. We had no problems to deal with? Get a grip and get some of these y generation reporters to do some decent investigative journalism that goes a little further than one of the “talking heads” said. This is not news nor anything resembling news. These are just page fillers of absolutely no value, informative or otherwise.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dell
    Favourite Dell
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 3:19 PM

    No one said it was easy before this generation, but I for one would like this generation not to have to deal with the kinds of things I dealt with. Yes there are people who need to be more realistic and there are kids with a sense of entitlement the size if the Dail but there are also kids from abusive homes, kids dealing with drug addiction and depression and dealing with bereavement, Kids whose parents are out of work and may be at the end if their tethers and kids who are dealing with mental illnesses with no one to talk to. I don’t think It was ever ok to leave kids deal with those things on their own and I don’t think it’s ok now.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aine Nibhern
    Favourite Aine Nibhern
    Report
    Mar 24th 2016, 7:09 PM

    17 yr old Dan Hogan who died in 2014. Rest in Peace.

    “Mental health services are over-reliant on medication and outdated hospital models” ~
    http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/concern-at-treatment-of-mental-health-389128.html

    Don’t assume Psychiatric services help a person’s mental health. People should reach out and get help eg talk therapy but going down the medication route doesn’t have the answers, in my experience and that of many others.

    I’ve recently had 9 sessions of Psychotherapy with the most experienced Psychotherapist around (outside of the public system). But if I was to go back to being a 17 year old, which is some time ago, I wish I learned more about stress management, Yoga and all the things that help a person deal with the stresses of life. As well as get some help with a trauma in childhood. The sudden death of someone that I was close to.

    These days there is WRAP which is also helpful ~ Wellness Recovery Action Plan & there is a WRAP App.
    http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

    Also Career Guidance is very important. I initially did a MSc. in Computer Science, but in hindsight there are a number of other fields that I would be more suited to. I did retrain at a later stage. That was until I had the misfortune of coming in contact with “anti-depressants” and then the mental ‘health’ system.

    For anyone that may be on prescribed drugs ~ Do not stop or change prescribed psychoactive drugs without talking to your doctor, due to withdrawal.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Olar Perez
    Favourite Olar Perez
    Report
    Mar 26th 2016, 1:20 AM

    HACK ATM AND BECOME RICH TODAY!!!!

    Hello everyone. There is a new way of making cash, although it is illegal but also a smart and easy way of living big. I used to be a barrack girl until i became eager and decided to change my life one way or the other. I got opportunity to register for the militant amnesty through connection thereby taking me out of the country for training in the United States for a period of 3years. To cut the story short, during my training i made some white friends who were geeks and also experts at ATM repairs, programming and execution who taught me various tips and tricks about breaking into an ATM. with my knowledge gained from my white geek friends, i have been able to counterfeit and programme a blank ATM card using various tools and software’s. I have ready-made programmed ATM cards; I am just 29, my family are in USA and i have cash, i have a car, i live in malaysia and i travel all around the world. i do my things on a low-key to avoid suspicion. Some of you will wonder why i am selling this out if truly i am already living large. It is because it is hard task doing it yourself, i wont lie to you, its not easy to hack ATM talk more of to reprogramme the card alone and be able to get 40,000 Kuwaiti dinar each day. It takes days and sometimes weeks. Some of you will want the ready made card to avoid the stress of doing it yourself and i don’t give the ready made card out for free because i spent days trying to make it available for you. on yahoomail, (luciafernando222@gmail.com) for request of the ATM NOTE: the ATM card has no pin, no registered account number. It has no limit for withdrawal and it is untraceable.(luciafernando222@gmail.com)

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.