Senior teacher Mark Cummins rings alarm bell on school mental health struggles

Margaret River-based teacher Mark Cummins says colleagues across the region are increasingly facing burn-out from a rising tide of student mental health issues, and worn-out teachers need the State Government to take urgent action. Mr Cummins and three other staffers with mental health training recently quit their jobs at Busselton’s St Mary MacKillop College, claiming a lack of communication and transparency. They alleged the school failed to notify parents or put risk-management plans in place when students disclosed thoughts of self-harm or suicide, despite that being Catholic Education WA official guidelines. CEWA was investigating the allegations, but principal Frank Norton denied claims by Mr Cummins, the former head of Year 9, that the school was not adhering to the guidelines after 15-year-old student Ariya Jeegam took her own life a year ago. Mr Cummins told the Times teachers in public, private and independent schools were all facing unprecedented challenges and professionals were needed urgently. “It’s reflecting society, really,” Mr Cummins said. “Mental health issues in teens are growing, schools are getting bigger and funding towards mental health in schools is considered a luxury.” As a specialist, Mr Cummins said it was crucial to get early intervention right before problems spiralled. “I feel no one is listening and this is serious,” he said. Funding for mental health needed an urgent increase, and multi-disciplinary wellness teams were needed so teachers could focus on their jobs as part of overall student welfare, Mr Cummins said. “From my experience, too much responsibility is going back onto teachers and this is dangerous for all concerned,” he said. “Teachers, by their nature, are caring and compassionate people. But they are not trained to manage and advise students regarding mental health illness or trauma.” An unrelated teacher who asked not to be named said politicians were spruiking the education sector during the election without facing the despondency causing professionals to leave the sector in droves. WA Education Department chief psychologist Chris Gostelow said all public schools had access to the necessary “resources, information and advice to ensure students are cared for and supported”. “Schools play a crucial role in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people in our community,” he said. “The Department of Education continues to work to increase services in this area and is implementing the State Government’s commitment to increase the number of school psychologists, and commitment to enable every public school to employ a chaplain if they choose to do so. “Training and resources to promote positive mental health are available to all public schools, and these continue to be reviewed and adapted in response to the emerging needs of our students,” he said. “The work done in schools has the biggest impact when it is delivered with the support of service providers, parents, families and communities.” This year, the South West received an extra 3.8 full-time equivalent school psychologists. The department’s evidence-based programs, training and online modules were available for staff development and to promote positive mental health in schools. Mr Cummins said a Parliamentary inquiry was needed to ensure all schools were following suicide reporting and prevention guidelines mandates by Education Minister Sue Ellery in 2018. Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800