The demand for school psychology services is outpacing available resources, leaving professionals stretched thin and students perhaps underserved. Across the nation, school psychologists are grappling with increasing caseloads and complex student needs, raising concerns about the sustainability of current support systems.

Julie Pascual, a school psychologist and union delegate, highlights the critical staffing shortages. We are clearly not numerous enough, she states,underscoring the immense pressure faced by her and her colleagues.

Decades of Underinvestment

The current situation is the result of long-term underinvestment in school psychology services. there has been no job creation for thirty years, Pascual explains. Even with fluctuations in student populations, the demand for mental health support and guidance has steadily increased.This creates a notable gap between available resources and student needs.

the workload is further compounded by the transient nature of the profession. We are traveling staff, often with nearly 1,600 dependents. A third of our colleagues are contract workers, Pascual notes, pointing to the instability and high turnover rates within the field.

Addressing Student Vulnerabilities

School psychologists play a crucial role in identifying and supporting vulnerable students. We are linked to the educational teams, we participate in all the monitoring meetings of the students who are identified as being in fragility, Pascual says. These students may be facing issues such as absenteeism, dropping out, or requiring special inclusion programs.

The challenges extend beyond the students themselves. We talk a lot about the discomfort of young people but the staff of national education are also suffering, Pascual adds, acknowledging the emotional toll on educators and support staff.

Navigating Orientation and Beyond

While academic orientation is a key aspect of their role, school psychologists also provide crucial emotional support. It is true that it is often the orientation that occupies us in the second degree, Pascual admits. The pressure of making life-altering decisions can be overwhelming for students and their families.

Making a choice is often scary for these young people, for their families too. Despite what we claim,the system is based on selection,it’s stressful … But these orientation meetings also allow young people to express themselves and the psychologist then tries to dig a little, Pascual explains, highlighting the importance of creating a safe space for students to voice their concerns.

The Firefighter Effect

The lack of resources often forces school psychologists into a reactive, rather than proactive, role. The means are lacking, Pascual emphasizes,particularly when it comes to providing long-term support for students in distress.

We direct young people to structures like CMPs (1) or liberal psychologists but the waiting lists are long. We are a bit of firefighters but what we are missing is time.
(1) Medico-psychological centers.

The reliance on external resources,such as medico-psychological centers (CMPs),is hampered by lengthy waiting lists,leaving students without timely access to critical mental health services.