NUMBER OF ONTARIO SCHOOLS WITHOUT ACCESS TO PSYCHOLOGISTS DOUBLED OVER PAST DECADE, SURVEY SAYS

The number of schools in Ontario with no access to psychologists has doubled over the past decade, according to a new survey that paints a worrying picture of the limited supports for students amid growing mental-health challenges.

In the report released Monday, the advocacy group, People for Education, found that 28 per cent of elementary and secondary schools had no access to a psychologist, whether it was virtually or in-person, this school year. This is nearly double the percentage of schools with no access in 2011.

Educators, parents and mental-health advocates have been concerned about the wellness of students after more than two years of pandemic-related disruptions, which saw schooling shift between remote and in-person learning.