(Australia) Gold Coast schools: suspensions up as "mental health among students declines"

Aug 9, 2017, Gold Coast Bulletin, Queensland, Australia: Rise in short-term suspensions as Gold Coast school students battle mental health issues http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/rise-in-shortterm-suspensions-as-gold-coast-school-students-battle-mental-health-issues/news-story/e5e8f480a229dc50368799ade4740ee1 GOLD Coast state school short-term suspensions have risen 16 per cent in the past year as mental health among teens declines. According to the Department of Education’s latest school disciplinary absences report, 5499 students received short suspensions last year, up 759 on the 4740 in 2015. Long-term suspensions increased 9.75 per cent on the Gold Coast, while exclusions and cancellations dropped 13.53 per cent and 12.66 per cent. Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the increase in suspensions was reflective of the general decline in adolescent mental health. “One in four adolescents have mental health issues and can have behavioural symptoms where they act out,” he said. “The reality is that schools are not designed for children with psychological problems.”... “Suicides have doubled in the past 10 years according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, rates of deliberate self-harm have gone up and we’re certainly seeing more referrals to Head Space.” ...