Dumfries and Galloway teaching union warns pupil anxiety and depression "greatly increased" since coronavirus pandemic

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A union representing teachers in Dumfries and Galloway has warned that levels of pupil anxiety and depression have “greatly increased” since the Covid-19 pandemic.

An Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) survey has looked into trends in “dysregulated behaviour” – which includes depression, anxiety, high levels of shame and anger, self-harm, eating disorders and extreme perfectionism – in the classroom.

The union’s local association secretary Andrew O’Halloran said: “Since the pandemic EIS members have noted issues of pupil anxiety and dysregulated behaviour have greatly increased, and this is having a big impact on teachers in terms of work-related stress. “We are working closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council to look at this and to find local solutions. “But this can only go so far as this is a national problem which requires input from both the Scottish and UK governments.

We do not have enough educational psychologists or learning assistants.” The local EIS survey showed 66.3 per cent of members in the region would like to see more learning assistants in schools.