The Arizona School Counselors Association says because of the pandemic, mental illness in students is becoming more common. 

Association spokesperson Sarah Skemp says the lack of social interaction over the last two COVID-years, children have missed out on building problem-solving and coping skills. 

“School counselors are doing more triage than usual. We’re seeing [more of] a need [for] intensive services for our families and students, an increase in hospitalizations," Skemp said.

She also says more children are being hospitalized after deliberately injuring themselves or attempting suicide. Skemp says Arizona has the worst counselor-to-student ratios in the nation.