Pandemic, war, climate crisis - the issues affecting society as a whole and the associated tension are evident from the point of view of experts at schools in the country. The number of consultations with school psychologists has increased.
Halle (dpa/sa) - According to the school psychological counseling in Saxony-Anhalt, the need for advice in schools has continued to increase even after the pandemic. The reason for this is the overall social issues and the associated tension, which is also evident in the schools in the state “like under a magnifying glass”, said the head of the school psychological counseling department at the state school board, Carola Wilhayn, the German press agency.
The school psychologists in the state see various fears or depressive symptoms in children. This would also lead to truancy. Among other things, Wilhayn named fears of separation, fear of performance and failure, as well as social fears and existential fears, "if we look towards the climate debate". Many of the concerns are still due to the sometimes long isolation of the children during the pandemic.
"Despite intensive efforts with homeschooling", it can be seen that there is a need to catch up on reading, writing and arithmetic, especially among elementary school students. "Of course, the secondary schools also feel this through the growing up years," says Wilhayn.
The request for advice is currently very high, "which means that there are waiting times and we have to decide on the basis of urgency when making appointments".
The long waiting times also result from the relationship between school psychologists and students in Saxony-Anhalt. Statistically speaking, there are around 10,000 children for every 26 psychologists in the country. This puts Saxony-Anhalt well above the national average, where statistically there were 6,300 children per school psychologist in 2021, as the state government recently conceded.
The area of responsibility of the psychologists ranges from case-by-case work to systematic advice and further training for schools. "For example, we are also on site in school crisis situations," says the expert. However, the work of the school psychologists is event-related. "We are set up as a counseling system and do not offer any therapies." This means that the school psychologists are called in for the diagnosis, but recede into the background after the counseling process.
Only in rare cases do the psychologists accompany children or young people over a longer period of time. "As soon as we recognize a need for therapy, we recommend that parents look for a registered child and adolescent psychotherapist." Pupils, parents or teachers can contact the school psychologists directly with their concerns.
School psychological counseling already existed in GDR times. "We know from former colleagues that the offer has existed since at least 1984." However, at that time the school psychologists were referred to as "psychologists for education".
