Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

School mental health professionals such as counselors, school psychologists, and social workers respond to many tragic situations. One of the most difficult is responding to a suicide. These professionals have their own issues regarding tragedy and loss and when they respond to yet another school tragedy. It is common to think about our own losses, and it takes a little piece of our heart every time. Caregivers know the importance of staying calm, being collaborative, and focusing on the needs of other people, but crisis response is intense and takes its toll on the caregiver. It is hoped that the school caregivers are the first ones contacted by an administrator when a school tragedy occurs, and they have time to process the tragedy and get help from their loved ones before being asked to help others. There may be a time when the individual or family circumstances for an individual caregiver make it difficult—or even impossible—for them to focus on the needs of others. If this is the case, then they need to speak up. Perhaps they can take a supportive role in the background instead of being face-to-face with grieving staff and students. Caregivers who serve on school crisis teams are sometimes almost constantly relied on if a school district has experienced multiple crises, and burnout can possibly develop. It is a sign of maturity and courage for a school caregiver to speak up when they know that they are being overwhelmed by the stress of crisis intervention. Caregivers are encouraged to be assertive in stating what they need in the way of support from school administration, friends, and family. The wise school administrator would meet with caregivers at the end of the day and check in with them to see how they are doing in the aftermath of a tragedy. Caregivers need to feel appreciated by the administration and to know they did the best they could in a tragic situation. There is no such thing as a perfect crisis response; it is about showing up and caring. There are no magic words, but it is important to state that we are sorry about the loss and there to listen anytime the affected person wants to talk! Caregivers know that it's important to help those affected by the tragedy to identify previous sources of support, and this is important for the caregiver as well. Caregivers are encouraged to use healthy stress-management behaviors that help them on a normal school day, such as eating well; getting enough sleep; engaging in relaxation, positive imagery and meditation; ensuring that they put some fun and relaxation into their day and get plenty of exercise; reaching out to the significant positive others in their lives; building a professional network; and avoiding isolation. Think of self-care like car maintenance. • S hort term—if HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, and tired) are developing, get a boost and use the strategies outlined above. • L ong term—get professional help, seek formal support, and take an inventory of your health. Tool 27 Caring for the Caregiver Florida S.T.E.P.S.