An exploratory study of guidance counsellors’ experiences of adolescents with anxiety and depression in post primary schools

Background: Schools play an important role in educating students about positive mental health and supporting students who are experiencing mental health difficulties. The guidance counsellor is a key figure in the whole school approach to wellbeing and mental health promotion with a particular role of supporting students “in moments of personal crisis” (DES 2005, p.4). In recent years Irish post primary school students have been experiencing a greater number of mental health difficulties. Among the most common of these mental health difficulties are anxiety and depression (Dooley and Fitzgerald, 2019). Aim: The aim of this study was to explore post primary school guidance counsellors’ experiences of students with anxiety and depression, particularly in relation to presenting issues and methods of support. Design & Participants: This study employed a qualitative paradigm, specifically semistructured interviews, to carry out data collection on the experiences of the nine participating guidance counsellors in this study. Data analysis was carried out using Braun and Clarke (2006) six step thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes emerged from the data. These were as follows: 1. The perceived causes of anxiety and depression among students in post primary schools. 2. The impacts of anxiety and depression on students as observed by post primary schools. 3. The role of the guidance counsellor in supporting students with anxiety and depression. 4. The role of schools in supporting students’ mental health. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the scope of presenting issues relating to anxiety and depression in Irish post-primary schools. This study also illustrates the important role of the guidance counsellor in supporting students who have anxiety and depression and the difficulties they face in this role. Importantly findings indicate that guidance counsellors are supported by the wider school staff in identifying students who are experiencing mental health difficulties and in promoting positive mental health and fostering coping strategies in the wider student body.