How can we effectively support pupils mental health when affected by trauma and bereavement? S.T.A.G.E.S. Support: Trauma And Grief – Enabling Schools

I didnt talk about mental health but I did talk about my happiness.

Why should adults be interested in our happiness when it is affected by trauma and bereavement? We have rights and adults have responsibilities. We rely upon adults to help us grow up in a healthy way We need information about trauma and grief to help us understand what is normal We need a support plan which involves key adults to help us feel safer and make healthy choices Healthy, happy individuals help to make a happier society

Some of our Best Hopes Go a day without thinking about the person you lost or the other people affected Do better school work To see them again Try and not be an arsehole to my family and friends To remember without getting upset Get people to understand what Im going through To sleep at night Stop teachers shouting at me and making me feel worse To stop crying all the time I wish people would speak about it

What supports exist in schools? Before STAGES – nothing It was bad Not comfortable Confidentiality No one understood Easier speaking to friends but sometimes hard cos they dont know what to say

Now that STAGES is here More confidence in myself People understand what Im going through There is a plan Seeing other people being brave helps me More interaction I feel better from having told my story Meeting other bereaved young people lets me know Im not alone

What helps? – Support Meetings Having someone to talk to who understands about trauma and grief Explaining the grief curve Doing a family tree Explanation of the brain A bit scary at first but helped me to relax Less worried – Relieved – Proud – More space in my head to do other things

Other helpful things Having a plan to have more time to do homework and not getting detention It would be good to have a chill out zone Having organised time off school when I am depressed or really tired Someone to call up and tell the school whats happened Not having to wait until things get worse like being excluded More support people in school Having hope Making sure the school knows what to do to help us Being able to say the words