A Monaghan school guidance counsellor has said he has seen a rise in the number of students missing class due to anxiety.
Gerry Reilly works as a counsellor at St. Macartan's College, Monaghan Town and is also National Secretary of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
He said the role of a school counsellor today incorporates careers and education advice and personal support.
Mr Reilly said personal support has become the "more dominant part" of the guidance counsellors' role in schools.
He is happy to report that more and more sceondary school students are "self-referring" to him and his colleagues for mental health issues.
However, he told the Joe Finnegan Show more members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors are reporting an increase in the number of students suffering from anxiety.
Members also report bad habits like pupils staying up late on mobile phones and feeling tired on school days has led to increased absenteeism in schools across the country.
