Types of Traumatic Stress for Students
Emotional Neglect (Shaquille)
Emotional Abuse (Eira Lines)
Ways Emotional Abuse can happen
Not showing encouragement/positive feelings
Ignoring a child
Being sarcastic/making hurtful jokes about a child
Manipulating a child
Emotional neglect of a child
Isolating a child
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Lack of self-confidence
Inability to control emotions
Bullying (Jiselle)
Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words, or more subtle actions. (American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Bullying. American Psychological Association. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying )
Inability to create and maintain connections with peers
Decline in progress in schoolwork
Threatening a child
Anxiety
Self harm/Suicidal Thoughts
Symptoms
Response Strategies
Speak to the student privately
Child may also experience emotional abuse from peers/teachers at school
Document what's been happening and speak to the school's management about what's going on
If bullying occurs in the classroom, get involved. Respond directly in the moment by speaking to the bully privately. Let them know what you heard and saw. Impose consequences that align with the school rules or the classroom rules.
If the bully is in the same class as the student, change the student's seat and have them sit closer to the teacher's location.
Be empathetic towards the student. Let them know you care about them and you see what they are going through
Work with the school's administrators and the student's parent(s) to set up a plan to ensure the student's safety
Parent Death: Child witnessed death of a parent at the hands of the other parent (Shian)
Symptoms
Responses/Treatment
Self Harm/ Risky Behavior (Drugs/ Alcohol/ Suicide/ Sexual promiscuity
Regular tardiness/ Absence from school
Panic Attacks (Reliving the moment vividly)
Excessive anger
Alienation from peers (Everyone)
Physical and Verbal aggression towards peers and teacher
Low school performance
Create protective environment
Letting the child know they are safe and what they witnessed won't happen again
Building Strong Relationship with Student
No Bullying Policy
Grief Support Group
Counsellor or Pyschologist Meeting
Behavioral Support Group
Depression
Anxiety/Fear that the alive parent will come back
Creating a community where the child can freely express their feelings and where they are heard instead of stigmatized
Having safety monitors and measures constantly enforced.
Allow the child to grieve properly for both parents.
Letting the child know their feelings are valid and it's okay to be sad or angry at the same time.
Relaxation Skills
Teaching the student about destructive behavior and ways to avoid such behavior
At this point in a child's life they would be upset with most adults in their lives especially due to the fact that the ones that were supposed to protect them hurt them in the worst way possible. So its ideal to build a relationship in which the student can trust adults again
Students should feel safe, children should feel safe at all times. Since their parents failed to keep them safe now the task is upon you as long as you're their teacher.
Children who experience this type of trauma sometimes have to go through the trauma of bullying from other students who don't understand the situation and think it nothing more than a joke.
Encourage children to be loving and caring as they should be. Encourage students to be their brother's keeper instead of making fun of a situation they don't understand.
Teach their peers about trauma so they will know how to better communicate and care for their fellow peers.
Children should see a specialist that would be able to know the exact level of grief and trauma that child is experiencing.
Psychologist should recommend ways and activities that will help the child on their healing journey
Avoids going to lunch or recess
Meetings should be a safe space and should only be discussed with other individuals when there is a dire need. The child needs to feel safe after that experience.
Have breathing exercises and daily affirmation time (all students can join in)
Have a calm down corner so when the child is overwhelmed instead of acting out they can retreat to that corner and relax
Response Strategies
Create a safe and comforting environment for the student to feel confident to share his/her feelings
Emotional management
As many children who have experienced Emotional abuse often have anxiety or extreme emotional reactions, it's important to teach students how to regulate these emotions.
Provide many opportunities to reinforce positive behaviour and offer words of encouragement to boost self-confidence
Guide students in developing emotional connections with other
Document emotional abuse that you have witnessed or the student is sharing with you
Provide opportunities for counselling if available at the school
(Sandra OBrien) According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration , more than 2/3 of students report some type of traumatic stress by age 16. Understanding Child Trauma. SAMHSA. (2022, September 27). Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/understanding-child-trauma
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Discrimination (Yani)
Types
Symptoms
Response Strategies
Racism
Religious discrimination
Sexism
Disability discrimination
Nationality discrimination
Sexual orientation discrimination
Physical discrimination
Weight discrimination
Height discrimination
Facial features discrimination
Physical abnormalities discrimination
Use a program like FaceUp which enables students to anonymously report bullying or group expulsion
Source
Wanting to avoid going to school Source
Stomach aches (often caused by anxiety) Source
Anger issues Source
Poor sense of self-efficacy, feelings of powerlessness and frustration Source
Highlight stereotypical roles and images in textbooks Source
Discuss stereotypes with students and challenge them when heard Source
Provide a range of role models Source
Reduced aspirations and struggling to meet full potential Source
Poor sense of self-worth or self-belief Source
Use tools like SEL to develop students' social and emotional skills via collaboration and learning about empathy Source
Types
Abuse (psychological, physical, or sexual)
Assault (Physical or sexual)
Domestic violence (witness or victim)
National disasters (Louisiana) or acts of terrorism
Commercial sexual exploitation
Loss of a loved one (Sudden or violent)
warfare or refugee asylum seeker
Stress resulting from being a military family (family member deployment, moving often etc.)
Violence (Community or School)
Neglect (Physical and emotional)
Serious accidents or life-threatening illness
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Symptoms
Symptoms may be similar and may depend on age, maturity and situation. Sometimes traumas are multi-layered or there are more than one traumas a child has experienced.
A common thread in symptoms is emotional distress. In younger children this can show present as crying for little or no reason and in older children, depression and withdrawnness as well as disruption and violent bursts.
Response Strategies
Be patient and understanding, yet consistent and fair.
Examples
Student was asked to admit to killing her baby brother after witnessing his death at the hands of her mother's boyfriend.
Student was being physically and sexually abused by her father.
Student often was beaten with a belt by her single mother. Student broke her leg after falling down the stairs running from a beating.
Student was being sexually abused by a friends father and was involved in a pedophile ring.
Create a positive classroom environment where students learn about the effects of bullying and how to model good anger management techniques. Set up a regular time to hear the student's concerns and offer support.
Constant headaches and stomachaches
Does not want to go to school or attend a particular class
Self-destructive behavior in the classroom
Avoids social interactions with classmates or peers / Complains about classmates or peers
Unexplained bruises or injuries
The class performance or grades drop
Types
Physical
Social
Cyber
Verbal
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Do what you can to help the child feel safe in the classroom. Contact the school counselor presenting what you have observed and ask them to reach out to the student. Take the students situation into consideration whenever having to discipline or reprimand the student.
If you know the situation from the child,
try to help the child understand
they are not responsible.
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Remember, you are a teacher, not a counselor. Work closely with the team, including counselor, to help the student function in the classroom society.
Child experiences emotional abuse from one or both parents at home.
Withdrawal from social interactions
Depression
Seeking affection
Cyberbullying (Rehab)
Symptoms
Lack of Interest in Activities
Emotional alterations
Withdrawal from Social Media
Inability to Communicate
Reduced use of devices
References:
(1) YouTube. (2015). Teacher Workshop Preventing Bullying & Empowering Students. YouTube. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from . (2) YouTube. (2019). How Teachers Can Stop Bullying . YouTube. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from .
Children neglected (Yuti)
signs of neglected
Consequences
type of neglected
Emotional neglect: Exposing a child to domestic violence or substance use, or not providing affection or emotional support
Educational neglect: Failing to enroll a child in school, allowing a child to repeatedly skip school, or ignoring a child’s special education needs
Inadequate supervision: Leaving a child who can’t care for themselves home alone, not protecting a child from safety hazards, or leaving the child with inadequate caregivers
Medical neglect: Denying or delaying necessary or recommended medical treatment
Physical neglect: Failing to care for a child’s basic needs like hygiene, clothing, nutrition, or shelter, or abandoning a child
Cognitive Impairments
Emotional Problems
Health and Development Problems
Social and Behavioral Problems
Health and development problems
housing and family issues
Poor Appearance and Hygiene
Change in behaviour
what to do
say you'll take them seriously
don't confront the alleged abuser
tell them it's not their fault
explain what you'll do next
let them know they've done the right thing by telling you
report what the child has told you as soon as possible.
listen carefully to what they're saying
habitual absenteeism from school (an average of five days a month, for example) and no attempt from the parent or guardian to change this pattern
failing to homeschool, register or to enroll a school-age child, causing the child to miss at least one month of school without valid reasons
refusing to allow or failing to obtain recommended remedial education services
not obtaining or following through with treatment for a child’s diagnosed learning disorder or other special education need without reasonable cause
the ongoing failure to provide a child with the resources and environment they need to learn.
Chronic Feelings of Guilt, Shame, and Self-Blame
Difficulty Identifying and Expressing Emotions
Lack of Self-Compassion
Sensitivity to Rejection
Skewed Self-Perception
Feeling “Different” From Others
Aversion to Depending on Others
It’s Difficult To Be Assertive
Persistent Feelings of Emptiness
Experiencing Additional Traumas + Other Mental Health Concerns
Lack of adequate shelter
Lack of Supervision
Children not being fed
ignoring the advice of a doctor or dentist
refusing to allow a child to be treated
not taking children to routine appointments such as vaccinations.
injuries, health issues or dental problems may go untreated
suffer from repeated illnesses and conditions such as skin sores, ringworm or rashes
Breach of duty-Child abuse, neglect, and lack of supervision constitutes a breach of the duty entrusted to a caregiver if the child was injured physically, psychologically, or both.
Causation-For negligence to be established, it must be shown that the neglect/lack of supervision was the direct cause of a child’s injuries.
Duty of care-Anyone that undertakes responsibility of a child is responsible for providing a safe environment, protect them from harm, and includes not neglecting the child.
Damages-A child who has suffered neglect/lack of supervision due to the negligence of another person and has suffered an injury because of this would be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages.
Lack of Adequate Clothing/Personal Hygiene
Lack of Medical or Dental Care
Failure to Protect
Behavioral Indicators of Physical Neglect
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Response Strategies
Help the students in collecting pertinent data for inquiries. this can be accomplished by printing or capturing screenshots of web pages. Don't let phone texts be deleted.
Inform the students that telling was the correct thing to do, and remind them to ask for assistance from their parents, the school counsellor, the principal, or the teachers
Offer consolation and assistance to the victim of bullying
Difficulty sleeping at night or sleepy during the day
Refusing to divulge details of their online accounts and activities
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Signs of sexual abuse in school include
Excessive knowledge of sexual topics
Changes in eating habits
Unexplained bruising
Not talking as much as usual
Spending more time alone
Not wanting to be around certain people
Changes in mood, such as being more aggressive
Less interested in school and activities
Avoiding the removal of clothes when changing or bathing
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Sexual Abuse in School (Sherry Zhu)
Types of Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse In Schools By Teachers
Sexual Abuse Coverups By School Administrators
Sexual Abuse In Schools By Peers
Consequences of Abuse
Anxiety and depression.
Eating disorders.
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Self-harm.
Suicidal thoughts and suicide.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Pregnancy.
Problems returning to – or continuing with – education.
Feelings of shame and guilt.
Drug and alcohol problems.
Relationship problems with family, friends, and partners.
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How to Help Prevent Sexual Abuse in Schools
Updating Your Safeguarding Policy
Providing Safeguarding Training to Staff
Teaching Children About Healthy Relationships
Dealing with Allegations Appropriately
The NSPCC Helpline
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Effects of Sexual Abuse in Schools
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychological Effects
Difficulties with Relationships
Impact of Academic Achievement
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During childhood, a victim may have chronic symptoms. Behavioral problems, low self-esteem, and depressive symptoms are some consequences of sexual abuse. Children may also experience developmental delays and neurobiological changes.
Immediate psychological effects include:
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Shock
Fear
Guilt
Denial
Confusion
During adolescence, the effects of sexual abuse in school include:
Anxiety
Delinquency
Early sexual initiation
Eating disorders
Low self-esteem
Studies show that 39% of 7- to 12-year-old girls struggle with academics, and 24% had to repeat a grade after experiencing sexual trauma.
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse means any sexual activity with a child, including physical contact, non-penetrative acts such as touching and kissing, and non-contact activities (such as producing sexual images or forcing the young person to watch sexual activities). It can also occur online: mobile phones, computers, and other devices allow for the quick, secretive exchange of explicit images (sexting) or sexual conversations.
Children can be sexually abused by a peer or someone younger than them – in fact, research has found that two thirds of abuse reported by children and young people was perpetrated by other children and young people (Hackett, 2014). In these cases, the abuse can be harmful to both the perpetrator and the victim.
What to do?
Listen carefully to what they're saying and document what they said after.
Let them know they've done the right thing by telling you and they are welcome to talk to you at any time.
Tell them it's not their fault and check in with them regularly.
Say you'll take them seriously and you are here to support.
Avoid confront the alleged abuser
Explain what you'll do next or who will be involved as a supportive person.
Report what the child has told you to school as soon as possible.
Typical Methods of Cyberbullying
Give the students suggestions on how to prevent a repeat of the incident, by updating contact information, disabling certain profiles on social networking sites, or filing an online abuse report.
Make sure the student doesn't respond to the texts
Encourage the students to protect their online privacy
Investigate the cyberbullying, and ask the offender to take down the offensive comments or posts if they are known. Every document should be preserved for the investigation.
Report abuse on social networking sites or through text messaging to the websites and mobile phone service providers
Posting cruel, offensive, or embarrassing internet remarks or rumours about other people
Telling someone to harm himself or make threats against them
Online impersonation of another person with the intent to solicit or post personal or inaccurate information about another person
Creating a cruel or offensive website about someone
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Secondary Trauma
(Teague)
Strategies to increase resilience
Maintain a healthy work/life balance
Participate in self-care buddy system
Seek professional counseling
Develop plans to increase personal wellness and resilience
Symptoms
Fatigue
Illness
Feelings of hopelessness/despair
Cynicism and avoidance of people/activities
Treatments
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Therapy
Medications such as used to treat anxiety and depression
Trauma-Informed Strategies to Use in Your Classroom (Luz Suarez)
Teachers play a crucial role in a student wellbeing. There are some strategies that they implement to help students deal with stressful situation at home.
- Look beyond the behavior
- Build relationships:
- Create a safe environment
- Meet students where they are
- Be predictable
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The more ACES ( Adverse Childhood Experiences) a child experience , the more likely he or she is suffer from things. Such as; Heart disease, diabetes, poor academic achievement.
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Type of adverses
- Maltreatment
- Violence or coercion
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- Adjustment
- Prejudice
- Household or family adversity
- Inhumane treatment
- Adult responsabilities
- Bereavement & survivorship
Causes of stress in students
- Examination
- Deadline
- Returning to study
- Pressure of combining paid work and study
- Difficulty in organizing work
- Poor time management
- Leaving assignment to the last minute
- Out of control debt
Classroom Strategies
- Maintain physical exercise and good nutrition. Go for a walk and take a deep breath.
- count to ten and take a deep breath. Practice 5 finger breathing routine.
- Journal; Write about your feeling and how would you handle next time.
- Look yourself to the mirror and say positive words to yourself.
- Connect with others. Talk to somebody.
Signs & Symptoms in Student
Personal needs of students are minimized or overlooked.
Student avoids acknowledging or resolving conflict.
Student feels uncomfortable when discussing own feelings or feelings of others.
Student avoids sharing preferences or likes/dislikes.
Student seldom speaks about themselves.
Strategies
Examples of Neglect from Parents
Provide information about and access to therapy for students.
Promote awareness and offer access to therapy for parents that may have experienced neglect themselves.
Create a safe environment for students to discuss the neglect without judgment with a trusted adult.
Passive, withdrawn, or aggressive behavior patterns are seen consistently.
Parent dismisses or disregards the child’s emotions.
Parent withholds praise or affection from child
Parent appears disengaged and uninvolved in relation to their child’s interests and activities.
Parent tends to consistently find fault with the child.
Parent spends little quality time in conversation and play with child.
Parent avoids helping student develop problem solving abilities.
Emphasize the use of positive praise and encouragement toward the individual student and between students themselves in class.
Ensure gender norms do not reinforce expectations of reduced emotional awareness for some students.
Demonstrate a clear interest in what the student enjoys talking about and doing.
Student is easily overwhelmed in certain unfamiliar situations.
Student has difficulty trusting new people.
Students speak in a cold tone and/or appear to lack empathy toward others.
Students often experience fear of rejection and difficulty with self-expression.
Help students identify with and understand their emotions.
Develop a secure and dependable support system for the student through their friendships and trusted adults
Physical and Emotional reactions
Being easily startle or frighten
Always being on guard for danger
Self-destructive behavior
Trouble sleeping
Trouble concentrating
irritability, angry outburst or aggressive behavior
Overwhelming or shame