The additional measures for mental health in schools, announced by the federal government following the shooting spree at BORG Dreierschützengasse in Graz, are to be decided in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

Government responds to Graz shooting with expansion of school psychology

According to Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS), the plan includes an expansion of prevention programs, more staff in school psychology and school social work, as well as mandatory "exit interviews" when children or adolescents are at risk of dropping out of school.

Some of the measures, such as the increase in psychosocial support staff, were already announced in the government program, as various studies have shown an increase in psychological stress among children and adolescents due to crises such as the coronavirus pandemic or international conflicts. The attack in Graz has recently underscored the urgency of measures, according to a document from the ministry.

Workshops on mental health and mandatory "exit interviews"

Specifically, starting next year, in addition to the existing workshops on extremism prevention, there will also be dedicated offerings for "Psychosocial Support and Mental Health" in schools. The funds for workshops are to be doubled to four million euros per year, and schools will also be offered counseling services. The workshops are also to be implemented in labor market policy offerings for young people.

Additionally, there should be mandatory "exit interviews" for students and parents to prevent early school absenteeism and dropout. For this purpose, the various existing discussion formats between teaching staff and parents should be further developed. The goal is to best accompany the educational path in collaboration with suitable support systems such as the youth coaching of the Ministry of Social Affairs or the AMS, and on the other hand, to identify "psychosocial risk factors" and initiate further steps.

More Staff for Acute Help and Prevention

In school psychology, Wiederkehr announces an approximate doubling of the current nearly 190 positions. Over the course of the coming school year, 70 positions will be added, and in 2026/27 another 70. Additionally, starting in the fall, there will be federal positions for school social work at AHS and vocational middle and higher schools (BMHS) for the first time. In the 2025/26 school year, there will be 30, and in the following school year, another 35. Also planned are better professional conditions for school psychology and psychosocial support staff, and the targeted use of other professional groups such as psychotherapists in multi-professional teams at schools is being examined.

With the additional staff, more intensive support for schools with their nearly 1.2 million children and adolescents in crisis and acute situations, in the creation and application of crisis plans, and in prevention work should become possible.

In the planned suspension support, school psychology and school social work should support the reintegration of children and adolescents into the school system after they have been temporarily excluded from classes, for example, due to violence.

(APA/Red)

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