The Ministry of Education of the Canarian Government has announced that the number of psychologists to be integrated into educational centers next academic year will rise to 80, exceeding the initial 39. This measure represents a significant increase in the budget allocated to this area, which goes from 2.17 to 4.46 million euros.
These professionals will be distributed as follows: 72 will join the 36 Educational and Psychopedagogical Guidance Teams (EOEP) across the islands, with two psychologists per team. The remaining eight will be assigned to EOEPs with the highest number of activations of the Protocol for intervention in suicidal risk (PIRS).
The Minister of Education, Poli Suárez, highlighted that this initiative is an 'important commitment' to 'improve the assessment and prevention of psychological disorders and problems' affecting student well-being. The Vice-Minister José Manuel Cabrera, along with Directors General Mónica Ramírez and David Pablos, presented the draft of these professionals' duties to union representatives.
The actions of these psychologists will focus on promoting student mental health and emotional well-being, offering advice to teachers and families. Priority will be given to interventions with students aged 12 to 18, as well as those in situations of suicidal risk, self-harm, bullying, gender-based violence, or gender identity processes.
These professionals will primarily work in secondary education institutes, integrated vocational training centers, special education centers, and publicly funded compulsory education centers. Their intervention will be requested by the centers, prioritizing cases based on urgency, severity, or ineffectiveness of previous measures. They will develop prevention, training, and coordination plans, and collaborate in psychological assessments and referrals to Mental Health units.
Furthermore, they will assist in implementing the PIRS, provide emotional support in cases of bullying or cyberbullying, and in applying protocols related to gender violence and gender diversity. They will coordinate with health services and record their actions. They will also offer advice and training to teachers and families.
The Ministry of Education emphasizes that the tasks of these psychologists will be complementary to those of the Guidance staff, without replacing their functions. Intervention requests will be received at the beginning of the academic year, requiring detailed information and, for minors, parental or legal guardian authorization. The Coexistence and Well-being area, along with the coordination of EOEPs and inspectors, will be involved in the process.
Minister Poli Suárez presented last April the strategic plan for the integration of school psychology in the Canary Islands, an initiative to strengthen emotional well-being support and improve the educational system's response to mental health challenges. 'Mental health is a key element for the coexistence and development of our students,' he stated, adding that the measure will allow for action 'earlier and better,' in a more coordinated and specialized manner.
