Nine-in-ten guidance counsellors report rise in student anxiety

Almost nine-in-ten guidance counsellors have seen a significant increase in anxiety among secondary school students, a new survey has found. Of 55 guidance counsellors polled by St Patrick’s Mental Health Services last March, 48 said that anxiety has risen across all year groups compared to the previous 12-month period. Counsellors also reported a rise in other mental health concerns over the past year, including more frequent cases of eating disorders, and more complex difficulties such as trauma and psychosis. Many observed a decline in students’ ability to cope with everyday stressors, attributing this to factors such as social media influence,…