A new school-based mental health service is set to launch in 65 of the most disadvantaged high schools in South Australia, but the state education minister says it may be difficult to fill the roles quickly.
Fifty-five school-based mental health practitioners will be hired by the SA government to support students and prevent escalations in bullying and violence – a promise made before the last state election.
Forty-five learning support specialists will also be employed.
Education Minister Blair Boyer said the challenge would be in recruiting enough staff – such as social workers and psychologists – to implement the mental health program.
He said the $50 million program selected schools "where there's the greatest need".
"This investment … will see a workforce including psychologists, social workers … and other learning support specialists in place to help young people tackle issues early," Mr Boyer said.
He said "an actual dedicated staff member" to deal with mental health issues would help with the "parlous state of the mental health of young people and staff" at schools across the state.
Trial at nine schools successful
Para Hills High School was one of nine selected to participate in a trial of the program last year.
Principal Alina Page praised the program as a "roaring success", with positive student and community feedback.
She said students had been suffering due to the sense of isolation from COVID-19, home learning and social media, and that with extra support, teachers would have more time to teach.
"We very often know when there's an issue, but we're teachers — we're not social workers or mental health practitioners," she said.
"Our practitioner helps improve staff and teachers' [mental health] literacy of how to be more nurturing and be the support the students need."
A key aspect of the program is the placement of full-time mental health staff in high schools.
School Mental Health Service principal practitioner Lisa Doyle said the practitioners would be looking to intervene in students' emerging mental health issues before they got worse.
"What we know about violence in schools is that often there is lots of things going on for young people that might engage in these behaviours," she said.
Hope to prevent school fights
It is hoped focusing on students' mental health will prevent highly publicised school fights.
Golden Grove High School — one of the schools that has been at the centre of publicity over the issue — has been included in the program.
Mr Boyer said the school had "really turned around there — it's incredible".
"We can turn things around really quickly … Mental health is a really important part of it," he said.
He said the state government would do whatever it took to tackle school violence.
"If people come to me and say, 'This is what I think we need to get on top of violence in the schools', then I'll always consider it and back it," he said.
