Ontario students need more mental health supports: study

A new survey by People for Education has revealed that while COVID-19 restrictions may be in the past, the mental strain the pandemic has had on young students continues to be an issue.

READ MORE: Ontario government to invest $4.75M towards mental health program

People for Education is a not-for-profit that advocates for public schools, they recently conducted a survey involving principals across Ontario. The study shows that 61 per cent of students 12 to 17 years old are reporting good mental health which is a drop of 12 points from before covid entered our lives.

The president of the Elementary Teachers Association of Ontario (EFTO), Karen Brown says that drop is playing out in classrooms, “a rise in violence in schools because there’s a lack of the ability to access testing. There isn’t any supports for me for intervention and then once you know, once that once the children are assessed where are the supports to support them to be successful?”

Toronto Public Health is reporting a 30 per cent spike in emergency visits related to self-harm.

People for Education is calling on the province to offer more family and community support and to realize that the pandemic and its restrictions were very difficult for students.