There is currently less than one psychologist per secondary school in Quebec. However, help at school is the key to curbing the distress of adolescents, argue several speakers.
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“School is the first line, the children are there every day […] It takes a stronger base in our schools, otherwise, we do irreparable damage, ”says the school psychologist and president of the Union of Professionals and Professionals of Montérégie-CSQ, Guy Boivin.
Currently, only 231 psychologists (2.5% of professionals) worked in secondary schools in Quebec, in 2021-2022, according to the Order. However, there are 498 secondary schools in the province, some of which accommodate more than 500 students.
- Listen to the interview with Geneviève Déziel, mother of Isaac Lajeunesse who took her own life at the age of 19 on Yasmine Abdelfadel’s show via QUB-radio :
One psychologist per school
A figure that is quite insufficient to meet the demand, deplores the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network, which requires at least one psychologist in each secondary school.
“It’s the minimum of the minimum, admits President Karine Gauthier. It has to be simple, there has to be a local service […] Young people who have symptoms of depression, if they get help quickly, the success rate is better. It’s like cancer.”
Psychoeducator in Montérégie, Lara Quévillon maintains that it is not uncommon to see her colleagues working five days a week, but in five different schools.
“Individual service is very rare. We are going to target universal interventions, which are good for everyone or in subgroups for certain classes,” laments the vice-president of the union of professionals and professionals of Montérégie-CSQ.
According to her, professionals quit their jobs in schools because they regret remaining on the surface in their interventions.
However, she and her colleagues are noticing the increasingly young distress among students, from the 5th year of primary school.
“Access to services has always been a great difficulty, but this is worse than worse,” adds Ms. Quévillon.
“Schools are at the heart of solutions to help young people,” also believes coroner Julie-Kim Godin, who investigated several suicides of young people recently.
Train teachers
In a recent report, Coroner Godin recommended that the Ministry of Education intensify work to train school workers (including teachers) as a priority to better identify signs of danger or suicidal risks.
“They may not say: I want to kill myself. But, the network must be trained to better detect the symptoms, ”she believes.
- Listen to Yasmine Abdelfadel’s interview with Anabel Allen-Viau and Mélanie Boucher, workers from the organization young people in mind, which focuses on suicide prevention through conferences in schools via QUB-radio :
Other solutions to prevent the worst
Several possible solutions have been raised by coroners to improve mental health assistance. Here are a few :
Treat as for cancers
Mental health patients should be better supported by the “system” when they need help.
“For me, mental health problems should be treated like a physical health problem, believes coroner Julie-Kim Godin. From the moment the person asks for help […] the network should link the services. »
By way of comparison, a cancer patient is entitled to all kinds of medical follow-up with professionals and resources to help them deal with their disease. In mental health, the patient remains on a waiting list for a long time for free help or to pay for services.
Better control over the Internet
- Blocking “pro-suicide” sites that are too easily accessible
- Implementation of tools to identify young people at risk online
- Offer of virtual help (by text message or chat)
- Promoting help sites on social networks and online gaming sites
“Between 30 and 50% of Internet sites dealing with suicide are pro-suicide or neutral sites vis-à-vis suicide. These sites are easily accessible by the various search engines. Developing suicide prevention initiatives on the Internet and ensuring their proper referencing could offset part of the negative effect of pro-suicide sites. – Coroner Me Majorie E. Talbot
Better train professionals
Family physicians, psychologists and social workers must be trained on a regular basis to properly detect suicidal risks.
Crisis centers
The telephone help centers must be better known to the general public, which can avoid tragedies during a suicidal crisis.
“People don’t have the reflex to call them, they don’t know them well enough,” said coroner Julie-Kim Godin.
Listen
“Do not hesitate to ask the question in relation to suicide, launches the psychologist and researcher Marie-Claude Geoffroy. Asking the question will not lead to action, but it can open a door to a solution.
Listening without judgment is a parent’s best tool, she says.