New Westminster Secondary School Students are struggling with their mental health – and being in school is making things worse for many of them.
Those were among the findings of a survey presented by the school’s Student Voice representatives to the New Westminster school board on Feb. 8.
Among the questions on the Student Voice survey was: How is school affecting your mental health so far this year?
Of the 309 students who answered, 172 of them said “somewhat negative” and 64 said “extremely negative” – for a total of 56% of respondents.
“I’m sure it comes as no surprise that students are struggling with their mental health this year,” Student Voice representative Makena Thomas said. “We’re now in our third school year dealing with COVID, and many are feeling very anxious and overwhelmed.”
Part of that comes from the fact that students are now back in the semester system, after a year where the school calendar was divided into quarters with just two classes at a time. As a result, Thomas said, many students are dealing with what feels like a very heavy workload.
For some students, the stress comes from the return to in-person learning after a year of doing studies online. For others, it stems from the move out of the old NWSS and into the new school building with glass-walled classrooms, which is making some students feel more exposed.
“Add on all the anxiety and stress of these uncertain times, and you have some very fragile students who are now faced with more rules and restrictions around when they can eat and when and how many people they can gather with to socialize,” Thomas said, noting the situation has deteriorated further since the survey was sent out in the fall.
“Now with the Omicron variant, it feels like students are getting close to their breaking point.”
Student Voice representatives have met with school- and district-based administration to discuss the survey findings, and they’re working on strategies to help students with their mental health.
Student Katharine Galloway told trustees about several ideas emerging from those meetings, including having administration provide more information to students about the services available to them. The student group is also working with a representative from the new on-site Wellness Centre at the high school to make sure students know about it and can access the programs and services it offers.
Students have also suggested implementing a more efficient booking system for those needing help from counsellors.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
