In the previous blog, I reminded you that September is National Suicide Awareness Month and offered several ways that a teacher can make a significant impact by knowing what types of clues students may exhibit. We discussed six warning signs that teachers should keep in mind as they interact with students daily. For convenience, those are listed below:
- Abrupt Changes in Behavior
- Expressions of Hopelessness
- Increased Absenteeism
- Complete Changes in Appearance
- Risky or Self-Destructive Actions
- Talking About Death or Suicide
If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s important to act. That is our focus for today – understanding how to effectively provide supports to make a difference for students and their families. As an important note, your school or district will have a specific reporting protocol based upon your state or local policies – be sure to know those procedures and adhere to them as stated.
How to Respond
The National Association of School Psychologists has a comprehensive guide of tips for teachers and parents that include certain risk factors with ideas for how to respond. Take the time to bookmark and read that information for future reference. If your school is doing some type of training or informational sharing with parents on the topic of suicide, that material would be a good resource to provide.
As we consider responses inside our classes and schools, here are 7 tips for you:
- Create a Supportive Environment: The first and most powerful tool you have is to create an inviting classroom that welcomes all students. By fostering a classroom atmosphere where students feel safe, respected, and valued, you can encourage open discussions on any topic – including mental health- and show them that it’s okay to ask for help. A supportive environment can be a powerful deterrent against feelings of isolation. Research shows that one strong relationship within the school can make a significant difference for students who may be struggling socially or academically.
- Initiate a Conversation: If a student has exhibited warning signs, then approach the student privately and express your concern by staying focused on their well-being. Use open-ended questions like, “I’ve noticed you seem down lately, do you want to talk about it?” Let them know that you’re there to listen without judgment. The key is to listen to their concerns and reassure them that help is available.
- Be Direct but Compassionate: If a student expresses thoughts of suicide, ask them directly if they are thinking about hurting themselves. It’s a myth that talking about suicide can plant the idea in someone’s mind. In fact, being direct shows the student that you care and are taking their feelings seriously. Avoid passing judgment or dismissing their feelings and emotions because they will shut them down. Maybe talk to your school counseling teams for sentence starters or their suggestions on how to best approach this topic should a student exhibit warning signs.
- Remain Calm and Present: When this topic emerges, it will shake you to the core. Despite what may be going on internally, project calm to the student as they will feed from your emotions. In being present, that means you need to remain close to the student until other assistance arrives. If a student mentions suicide and you believe they are genuine, you cannot let them leave your presence. Yes, that may mean it delays your other class or takes away your planning period, but you need to ensure they are safe until other assistance arrives.
- Notify: This one-word statement seems implied, but we need to discuss something important here. Students will often ask to speak with educators on a “confidential” basis meaning that what they say to us stays with us. While we may offer some level of confidentiality, we cannot make an absolute guarantee that it can be upheld. Due to state laws and local policies, certain things must be reported to authorities (e.g., suspected child abuse). If a student confides that they recently attempted or are about to attempt suicide, then you cannot keep this secret but must share this information with the appropriate, school individuals. Your critical response is to get the student the help and support they need instead of trying to keep something in confidence that crosses ethical and/or legal boundaries.
- Involve the School Counselor (or Crisis Response Team): It is imperative to involve your school’s counseling team, school mental health professional, or school administration. In most school settings, a Crisis Response Team is comprised of these individuals and is trained to intervene when a student is identified at risk of suicide. Make sure to follow your school’s protocol for reporting concerns about a student’s safety, so that the student gets match to the right supports and you return to supporting your other students.
- Follow Up: If you’ve had a conversation with a student about their mental health, follow up with them regularly. This simple check in is not to rehash previous discussions or to “counsel” them but just to see how they’re doing. Following up lets them see clearly and know you care and are available for support. The Crisis Response Team will often provide follow up counseling and support with the student but they also work with parents as well. Quite frankly, the follow-up with parents is just as important as that time with students!
Taking Care of Yourself
Supporting students at risk of suicide can be emotionally taxing, and you must know that upfront. It’s important to take care of your own mental health too because an empty vessel cannot pour into others. If you find yourself assisting students contemplating suicide, make sure you have a support network you can rely on, either from colleagues or your organization, to practice self-care. Many schools have individuals as part of their Crisis Response Teams who will make themselves available to you, as frontline staff, after an event like identifying and supporting students contemplating suicide.
Remember, you are not alone in your school community. By being vigilant and compassionate, you can make a significant difference in the lives of your students, guiding them toward the help they need during their most vulnerable moments.