Advice on supporting staff and students during crisis
As we enter into a somewhat unpredictable time with civil unrest, we want to provide some guidance on helping to identify whether students are impacted and how to help.
When talking about civil unrest or tragic events, here are some universal tips to help:
Reassure safety- It is the responsibility of adults (parents and school) to protect children so that they don’t need to worry. Acknowledge the events in a calm way and provide reassurance about the child’s safety and security.
Limit media exposure- Monitor and reduce the use of social media, news, tv, radio. Try to be in charge of how your child is learning about the event. Older children may be exposed to traumatic news stories with social media. It is important to monitor their interpretation of what is happening around them. When exposure is unavoidable, provide basic information at an age appropriate level. Brief, basic facts for younger children while older children and teens may have more questions.
Maintain a normal routine– Set routines around meals, bedtime, chores and school work.
Reach and teach with open-ended questions-What did you see happen today? What did it make you feel? What questions do you have?
Problem Solve- Teach your child to deal with differences and conflicts by inviting questions like: How can people get along better? What kinds of things can communities do to make sure everyone’s opinions are heard? Instead of fighting, what are other ways to share your feelings?
Monitor your own emotions– Exposure to news is upsetting and overwhelming for adults.
This approach will help you gauge where your child is with the experience. Use age appropriate language and let them lead the discussion. Children often deal with trauma in chunks, meaning they may have a few questions, go and play, and then at a later time, return with more questions. Don’t overwhelm your child because you feel they may need to know more. Let the child set the pace and fill in the gaps.
Developmentally based recommendations from the Child Mind Institute (June 2023):
Ages 12-18 years
Adolescence is a challenging time for some young people and they can struggle with wanting independence from parents as well as have the tendency to feel nothing can harm them. Traumatic events can make them feel out of control even if they act neutral. They will have more of a desire to understand the situation and how it impacts people around them. Direct access to the internet means that they are likely to find out information from their friends or social media platforms which may result in heightened levels of panic or worry.
Possible reactions:
- Avoidance of feelings
- Ruminating on the event
- Distancing self from friends and family
- Anger, mood swings
- Depression and perhaps expression of suicidal thoughts
- Panic about the future
- Academic issues with memory, concentration and attendance
- Possible substance use (alcohol, vaping, etc)
How to Support: Make efforts to help the teen feel safe. Help teens feel helpful by giving small tasks and responsibilities around the household and praise them for what they have done and how they handled themselves. Open the door for discussion and start a conversation while you are doing an activity. Put things into perspective, reminding your child of things that have remained the same despite current events. Consider organizing peer groups so that they can support each other. Encourage them to talk to other trusted adults like teachers or relatives. Limit news and media exposure.
Signs of Trauma:
- Constantly replaying images in their minds
- Nightmares
- Beliefs that the world is unsafe
- Poor concentration
- Appetite/Sleep issues
- New behavior problems
- Regression from milestones already achieved
- Nervousness about people getting too close
- Functional impairment: inability to go to school, learn, play with friends, etc.
What Teachers Can Do to Help Students
- Resume routine as much as possible. Maintain expectations of students. It doesn’t need to be 100% but some work and simple tasks are helpful.
- Be flexible and allow more opportunities for brain breaks. Be mindful that some students will be more affected than others.
- Be aware of signs that a child needs extra help. Refer students to Jessica and Sekai for additional support and possible referrals.
- Help kids understand what happened by mentioning various kinds of help and positive coping ideas.
- Reassure children that school officials are making sure they are safe.
- Stay in touch with parents and encourage them consistently to limit their children’s exposure to the news.
- Take care of yourself. Find ways for you and your colleagues to support one another.
- Adults and students will have differing opinions about the “right” and “wrong” of events happening. Possible messages/responses when students ask for a teacher’s opinion:
“We need to work for peace in our community”
“I want you to be safe”
“We need to make sure everyone is treated with respect”
Additional Resources:
How to recognize signs of distress and activities to support wellbeing:
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-care/how-to-recognize-signs-of-distress#activities
Parents
https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-cope-frightening-news/
Tips for Educators and Parents
Practical guidance on talking to children about civil unrest
Self Care for Parents and Staff
While you provide care and support to our students, it is important that you take care of yourself. Here are some ways that you can prioritize your own mental health and wellbeing:
- Do a self check-in of your emotions and find a safe space to express your feelings as needed.
- Maintain a balanced lifestyle – find time to exercise, sleep, eat well, stay hydrated.
- Be intentional about making connections with family and friends. Avoid using these conversations to talk about current events only.
- Limit your exposure to media coverage of the ongoing events and resist the temptation to share all the links and images you receive.
- If you need help, do not hesitate to reach out and ask for what you need.
Professional help
In Dhaka
PHWC Clinic – 01777772763
Square Hospital – 09610010616
For those on the international medical coverage, you may access up to 5 free therapy sessions through the EAP 24/7. Additional services can be accessed under the health plan.
