Over the next four weeks, all secondary students will be completing a counselling screening. This screening includes questions that specifically inquire about school belonging, symptoms of worry or anxiety, and symptoms of low mood or depression. The screener is a 28-item survey that will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Students’ responses will help us identify individuals who need particular support and target appropriate prevention strategies for the whole student population.
Students will take the screening at a convenient time between the following dates:
23 September – 4 October – Y11, Y12 & Y13
14 – 18 October – Y9 & Y10
21 – 25 October – Y7 & Y8
Members of the student support team, Zara Pugh (student counsellor), Kyo Wong (social worker), and Ellie Fong (social worker) will follow up with students who indicate in the survey that they would like support, or whose responses indicate that support may be helpful. We may also follow up with parents/guardians.
We encourage adults at home to talk with their students about their wellbeing and mental health. This screener can be a way to start that conversation. It can be helpful to ask directly how they’re feeling, identifying if you’ve noticed any shifts in mood or behaviour. You can mention the counselling screening and ask if they had any reaction to it in a supportive and non-judgmental tone. It can be helpful to note that struggles can be context-driven, and given school stress and any number of life events, it would make sense to need support sometimes. You can also frame seeking support or help in a metaphor. For example, if you broke your arm, you would probably visit a doctor and receive approved medical treatment to let it heal over time. Similarly, your brain controls feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, and sometimes you need to seek known treatments from trained professionals to work towards balance and healing.
If you have any questions or comments about the screening or student support services at school, please visit our new website and feel free to contact us directly.