Student survey results

By Jonathon Howard

FOUR IN 10 primary school students and three in 10 secondary school students report being bullied at school, and two in 10 have reported online bullying, according to the latest student survey results undertaken by Healthy North Coast.

The Resilience Survey is Australia’s most widely used mental health and wellbeing survey for schools and reveals some shocking statistics for NSW kids.

The survey captured 6,611 responses across 75 Northern Rivers schools including many in the Tweed Shire.

A third of all students surveyed in primary school and more than a third in secondary school are at risk of depression and anxiety.

More than 40 per cent of all primary students were at risk of trauma-related stress, whilst secondary students were less than 20 per cent at risk of trauma-related stress.

Another alarming figure is almost 30 per cent of primary students and 40 per cent of secondary students display disengagement from learning.

On the plus side, primary and secondary school students generally feel connected within their social support structures including teachers, family and peer support.

Around 70 per cent of students said they feel protected and safe in their schools and homes.

Vaping and substance abuse also featured in the survey, with 10 per cent of secondary students now engaging often or frequently in risky behaviours such as vaping, smoking, drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.