School counselors say students' lives have been disrupted over course of pandemic
Lack of routine, increases in anxiety seen in some students
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Updated: 6:40 PM EST Mar 12, 2021
Lack of routine, increases in anxiety seen in some students
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Updated: 6:40 PM EST Mar 12, 2021
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HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL COUNSELORS. THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP KIDS EVEN IF THEIR NEEDS CHANGE. ACROSS ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS THE DISRUPTION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS DULL BY ALL. X I DEPEND -- >> I DEPEND -- IS FELT BY ALL. >> I DEPEND A LOT ON PARENTS TO REACH OUT WITH WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING. >> MOMENTUM FOR KIDS IS DIFFICULT. >> AMONG THE BIGGEST ISSUE, LESS ACCESS TO FRIENDS, THE LACK OF ROUTINE, AND AN INCREASE IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. >> I BROUGHT -- I TALKED TO MY HOMEROOM AND THE BIGGEST THING THEY BROUGHT UP IS MENTAL EXHAUSTION. >> COUNSELORS ARE FINDING SOME POSITIVES. VIDEOCONFERENCES GIVE THEM MORE ACCESS TO PARENTS AND SOME STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO MEET WITH A COUNSELOR OVER VIDEO THAN IN PERSON. KIDS ARE PROVING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, BUT COUNSELORS SAY THEY STILL NEED TO BE CHECKED IN ON. >> EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE INDEPENDENT ON THEIR OWN, A LOT OF THEM ARE UP IN THEIR ROOMS ALL DAY. IT BRINGS A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF CONCERN. >> THIS TIME, NONE OF THE COUNSELORS WE SPOKE TO SAW MAJOR LONG-TERM IMPACTS. >> I’M HOPING WE CAN ADJUST TO WHERE THE KIDS ARE ACADEMICALLY SOME ADJUSTMENT. I DON’T THINK IT’S GOING TO BE HORRIFIC. >> COUNSELORS STRESSED ASKING KIDS TO HELL