Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge what the Minister is saying but it is important that we also acknowledge that next year's leaving certificate class, this year's fifth year class, finds itself in unique circumstances. Additional supports need to be provided. In general, we need to put additional supports and new approaches in place to deal with and prevent the growing mental health issues that we have among our students at primary and post-primary level. The results from the Growing Up in Ireland study that was carried out prior to the pandemic show that students having a higher depressive score at the age of 13 is associated with a greater chance of a diagnosis of depression at 17 or 18 years of age and a greater likelihood of self-harm. It is important that in the wider school population, especially at second level, that we have a proactive, innovative approach across all of our students to support them from a mental health perspective.

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