School Counsellor Role in Early Detection of Mental Health Disorders

In a child’s life, one of the most overarching themes that prevails for the foundational years of development is ‘School.’ In the environment of their school, a child spends the most time learning values, gaining knowledge, fueling creativity, interacting with peers, and even engaging in physical activity, all of which are vital for a child’s holistic development. School not only fosters a child’s development but also occupies a significant portion of their time. With almost 8 out of 24 hours spent at school, it also becomes a critical environment for identifying any issues faced by the child. 

Statistics suggest that globally, one in every seven children aged 10 to 19 years has a mental disorder (World Health Organisation: WHO, 2024). Neurodevelopmental disorders, sensory impairments, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, and even behavioural problems can be found amongst children (Balamurugan et al., 2024). Given the growing concerns and prevalence of mental health disorders amongst children in school, pedagogues, educators, and School counsellors can serve as the first line of defence in recognising and addressing emerging mental health concerns.

Read More: Autism Spectrum Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Types and Treatment

Who is a School Counsellor?

A School Counsellor is a licensed professional who provides adequate career and social-emotional support for all students within each level of schooling, including elementary, middle school, high school, and even College (Home – American School Counsellor Association (ASCA), n.d.). These professionals occupy a very important position in a student’s life as they can help the student with any issues that they face while prioritising their mental health development.  They cannot only act as an academic advisor, but also as the first line of psychological support for a child. 

School counsellors are usually qualified in the fields of counselling psychology and education, with the required training to not only address the issues faced by children of all ages, but also identify mental health disorders early. Their close work with educators, teachers, parents, administrators,  and students helps them create a better learning environment that suits the needs of the student while preparing them for the future that lies ahead. 

Read More: One School Counsellor, Hundreds of Minds – Is It Enough for an Entire School 

What Equips a School Counsellor to Detect Mental Health Disorders in Children?

1. Trust: One of the most important parts of a school counsellor’s role is to build a relationship with the students. This relationship is built upon mutual trust and by establishing a good rapport. Counsellors also take the initiative to be seen as approachable figures whom the students can confide in. By establishing themselves as a trustworthy confidante, counsellors can thus become more connected to the child and gain access to their thought processes and emotional patterns. 
2. Observations: Since the school provides a child with a structured environment, which consists of a wide variety of individuals to interact with, it can become easier for the School Counsellor to notice changes in behaviour and well-being. Interactions with teachers, peers, and even the counsellor themselves can act as vital sources of information for the School Counsellor.
3. Dedicated Time: Teachers and staff members are responsible for multiple students across classes and grades. On the other hand, a School Counsellor can dedicate time to individual children and focus on them specifically (Hicks, 2018). This not only allows the child to feel more heard and cared for but also gives the School Counsellor the ability to understand issues faced by the student in greater detail. 
4. Mental Health Screenings: A School Counsellor can administer universal mental health screening for the students, which can help them identify the students’ trajectory and mental health issues faced by them. This small intervention can act as the first step towards identifying potential problems in a child, especially when they are not immediately observable (Connors et al., 2022). The screening tools help detect concerns earlier and engage students in care more effectively, as they can provide quantitative measures.
5. Training: School counsellors and professionals have the appropriate training and education to demonstrate accuracy in observing students who need mental health support. Studies suggest that a School Counsellor can effectively identify students requiring mental healthcare access. Choi et al. (2022) suggested that even with minimal training, nearly 90% of the students who needed cognitive behavioural therapy, identified by a School Counsellor, screened positive for significant depression or anxiety.

Early Signs of Mental Health Disorders

Since it has been established that children spend a great amount of time at school, and a School Counsellor can play a vital role in the identification of mental health disorders amongst children, it is also important to understand the subtle early signs of mental health disorders. These signs manifest gradually and may even be overlooked by educators or family members, but with the trained eye of a school counsellor, these small behaviours can also become indicators of mental health disorders.

1. Behaviour

1. A sudden decline in academic activity, which includes a drop in grades in incomplete assignments, and even the inability to pay attention in class. 
2. Aggressive behaviour from the student, which can include impulsivity, restlessness and hyperactivity. 
3. Lack of punctuality and even skipping lectures. 
4. Withdrawn from one’s peers and friends. 
5. Difficulty in specific subjects or skills that just seem impossible to master.

2. Emotions

1. Persistent sadness prevails regardless of the student’s environment. 
2. Increased irritability and frustration. 
3. Sudden mood changes that cannot be explained by the environmental stimuli. 
4. Increased fear and bouts of anxiety. 
5. Sudden dislike for the school or home environment. 

3. Social Interaction

1. Isolation from peers and friends. 
2. Preferring to eat or play alone. 
3. Being scared around specific classmates or educators. 
4. Difficulty with other children. 

Conclusion

School counsellors are the bridge between mental health and education. They serve as valuable assets, helping make the learning environment more adaptable and inclusive to meet students’ needs. They can also help parents and act as their trusted allies in fostering the child’s overall development. With their observations across academic, social and emotional settings, they will be able to recognise early warning signs that indicate underlying mental health concerns amongst children.

With professional training, collaborative skills, rapport building, and tools for intervention, School Counsellors will be able to create a culture of mental healthcare within the school itself.  In today’s era of rising youth mental health concerns, school counsellors can proactively support children’s academic success and emotional well-being.

FAQs

1. Should all schools have a School Counsellor? 

Yes, in today’s day and age, with rising concerns regarding children’s mental healthcare, schools must have School counsellors who are readily available for children and teachers. School counsellors address children’s concerns and help create a holistic curriculum that supports both students’ needs and educators. Having a School Counsellor can be extremely beneficial for the entire school environment in totality. 

2. Are School Counsellor sessions confidential?

Yes, sessions with the school counsellor respect student confidentiality, especially in cases where the student’s peers might hold stigma or judgement for the student’s requirement of counselling. School counsellor-student conversations are confidential, except when the student is at risk of harming themselves or others. Parents can consult the school counsellor, but they won’t have access to all confidential student conversations

3. Can Teachers support the School Counsellor in Early Detection?

Teachers act as important assets for School counsellors in the early detection of mental illnesses amongst students. Teachers, who spend more time with students and observe them in class, can provide the school counsellor with vital information about the student. They can also report their concerns regarding changes in the students ‘ behaviour or performance to the school counsellor. They can also help the school counsellor develop intervention strategies and encourage students to seek support when needed.

4. Can School Counsellors address bullying? 

One of the key roles of a school counsellor is to identify and address bullying in the school environment. As bullying negatively affects both victims and perpetrators, school counsellors must intervene and address such cases. School counsellors can also create anti-bullying programmes that help address bullying on a larger scale. 

References +

Balamurugan, G., Sevak, S., Gurung, K., & Vijayarani, M. (2024). Mental Health Issues Among School Children and Adolescents in India: A Systematic Review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.61035

Choi, S. Y., Rusch, A., Koschmann, E., Bilek, E. L., Lane, A., Abelson, J. L., Eisenberg, D., Himle, J. A., Fitzgerald, K. D., Liebrecht, C., Kilbourne, A. M., & Smith, S. N. (2022). How Effective Are School Professionals at Identifying Students Who Might Benefit From Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? Baseline Data From the Adaptive School-Based Implementation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Trial. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.814157

Connors, E. H., Moffa, K., Carter, T., Crocker, J., Bohnenkamp, J. H., Lever, N. A., & Hoover, S. A. (2022). Advancing mental health screening in schools: Innovative, field‐tested practices and observed trends during a 15‐month learning collaborative. Psychology in the Schools, 59(6), 1135–1157. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22670

Hicks, J., PhD. (2018, February 7). Parents can advocate for changes that impact their child. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/raising-parents/201802/improving-school-climate-by-changing-counselor-duties

Home – American School Counsellor Association (ASCA). (n.d.). https://schoolcounselor.org/

World Health Organisation: WHO. (2024, October 10). Mental health of adolescents. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health