Students’ mental health issues : listening to secondary school counsellors and guidance teachers

Abstract

Research on youth mental health and my experience as a Maltese state school guidance teacher fuelled my research focus. The scope was to explore guidance teachers’ and counsellors’ experience in Maltese secondary state schools, understand the types of mental health issues students encounter and their potential causes, and identify how they are currently being addressed. The research used a qualitative approach, using audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with four counsellors and four guidance teachers with at least three years of experience working in secondary state school, recruited through social media. These participants highlight a concerning rise in complex mental health issues among teenagers, including anxiety, eating disorders, and sexual orientation. They are struggling to keep pace with the growing need for support and more personnel, overwhelmed with caseloads and have long waiting lists. Family issues like stress and troubled relationships further contribute to teenagers' difficulties. Other vital factors that pressure students include modern challenges like social media, exposure to harmful online content, and frequent relocations. Social media and video games, while offering connection, also present risks like cyberbullying and addiction. Despite these hurdles, teenagers are showing remarkable resilience. Student diversity and cultural stigmas around mental health add to the challenges schools face. The participants remain hopeful that their interventions, even simple encouragement to seek help, can have a significant impact. The study recommends increased training and resources for school staff and mental health professionals, along with improved communication and collaboration. This research compels us to act now before untreated mental health issues threaten to dim a generation's potential.