Supporting Our Youngest Learners: The Need and Benefit of Elementary School Counsellors
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Authors
Cattermole, Diana
Issue Date
2024-08
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
elementary school counsellors , benefit of elementary school counsellors , need of elementary school counsellors , adolescent , child , counselling , mental disorder , mental health , mental illness , school climate , school culture , youth , social emotional learning
Alternative Title
Abstract
Mental illness is on the rise worldwide and British Columbia is no different. More children with mental illness go untreated than those who are lucky enough to receive support. Access to mental health support is a huge barrier for many families for various reasons, such as wait lists, cost, and even physical location and time constraints. When children are struggling with mental illness, it affects their ability to learn, to socialize, and to regulate. This often is more apparent in a school setting. There are also children who do not present as having a mental illness as they are exhibiting internalizing behaviours and are often overlooked for support because their behaviour is not extreme. The current system is set up as a downstream or reactionary one, only providing support once a child is in crisis. Early intervention, or an upstream approach, is key to preventing more serious mental illness or comorbidities as the child moves through adolescence and later into adulthood. The long-term benefits to society in general far outweigh the initial investment. Elementary school counsellors are able to provide this early intervention. Their role is to support school staff and administration in developing a comprehensive school counselling program unique to that school. They have a direct impact on school culture through collaboration with staff, supporting staff with social emotional learning, and to promote mental health by normalizing help seeking and reduce the stigma around mental illness. The sooner we can support our youngest learners in a setting they spend most of their time in, we are able to access
many of those students who are at risk or marginalized, and who often need mental health support the most. The time to invest in our youngest learners is now.