As teachers, you have a unique relationship with young people
and as such are often privy to, or made aware of, when young people
are going through a tough time emotionally. It is essential for
your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of students in your care,
that you are able to deal with these situations appropriately.
When a student turns to you for help, it's because they trust
and respect you. Sometimes being the person that someone
turns to can become a burden. When students confide in you,
naturally you want to do all you can to help them. But sometimes
it's hard to know what to say, how to help, or who to turn to for
advice. After all, you are not a trained counsellor. So here are
some key messages to remember in order to look after the student,
but also look after yourself.
- Show you care and give them time and
attention. Often students don't need anything more than
someone who is willing to just be there for them. Having a trusted
adult that they can talk to is an important protective factor.
- Be yourself and be prepared to listen and
understand what is happening to the student.
- Be non-judgmental, patient, calm, and
accepting. The student may be reluctant to talk about
their problem because they don't want to upset anyone, but they
need to know they're doing the right thing by talking to
someone.
- Know how and when to go to others for help.
Encourage the student to seek help themselves. They may feel
supported if you offer to go with them when they speak with a
school counsellor or welfare advisor.
- If you feel out of your depth, don't try dealing with
the situation alone. If you feel like the problem is
serious or you have concerns for the student's welfare you must
report it to your Principal. As mandatory reporters, teachers are
required to report situations where they believe a young person is
at risk of harm.
Sometimes a student doesn't come to you for help, but they may
be behaving in ways that make you worried about them. How do you
know when to intervene? There are some warning signs that you can
look out for. But it is important to remember that any one of these
alone (lasting only a short time) is normal, but if you know a
student with some of these signs lasting more than a couple of
weeks, they may need some outside help.
Signs to look out for include:
- Constantly thinking or talking about their problem/s
- Acting and being very out of character. For example, a quiet
person becoming loud and wild or an outgoing person becoming really
quiet
- Unexpected outbursts of emotion
- Having problems with sleep - sleeping too much or not
enough
- Changes to eating habits - not eating at all, or eating and
then throwing up
- Using drugs or alcohol
- Taking part in unsafe or daring situations like speeding around
in cars and having unprotected sex
- Avoiding friends and social events that they would normally be
part of
- Threats or talk of killing themselves
- Acting or talking like no one cares about them; nobody would
notice if they went away, or the world would be a better place
without them.
If you do have concerns for the welfare of a student then don't
be afraid to raise your concerns with them. They will often feel a
sense of relief that someone has noticed and cares enough to ask
how they are going. If your concerns are confirmed, then it is
important to inform the appropriate staff within the school to
ensure that the student receives the help and support they need to
stay safe. Each school will have policies that identify the
processes for notifying a concern about risk of harm to a
student.