Students are returning to the classroom, and many have been exposed to trauma. Studies show that 40% of students have been exposed to some form of trauma. Trauma can encompass many situations such as divorce, a family dealing with a serious illness, the trauma of a natural disaster, or military deployment. This can be in the form of a sexual or physical assault. Domestic violence can be the most prevalent trauma the student can experience in the home. All the while, students can also be experiencing trauma while grieving and dealing with loss or abandonment. It isn’t uncommon for someone to experience anxiety, fear, or depression because of experiencing trauma. It is important to note that trauma is not always associated with violence.
Many Students Have Experienced Trauma
Students experiencing trauma is more common than many realize. According to Education Northwest:
· 1 in 4 students has been mistreated by a caregiver. Out of this number, 4% were physically abused
· More than 13% of children have been physically bullied. Out of this number, more than 1/3 have said that they have been emotionally abused
· 1 in 5 students have witnessed violence in the family
· 60% of students have experienced abuse during childhood
· 26% of students have witnessed a traumatic event before age 4
· Out of 536 K-8 students surveyed in an inner-city community, 30% witnessed a stabbing
Trauma and Learning
Trauma symptoms can go largely unrecognized because they mimic other problems. Students can display frustration, acting out, difficulty concentrating or following directions, or have difficulty working in a group. Students who are experiencing trauma can find learning to be a struggle. There is a direct connection between stress and the student’s ability to learn.
A student who is struggling with trauma can show any of the following behaviors in their school performances:
· Lower GPA
· Higher rate of school absences
· Increased dropout rate
· More suspensions and expulsions
· Decreased reading ability
For many students, school is a safe place where they can receive counseling services, safety and crises planning, behavior plans, or self-care plans. The safer the student feels with you, the more likely the student will share ways of how to support them. To determine what type of support a student will need, it is important to:
1. Promote Positive Relationships with the Student. If you know the student has a trigger, try not to push the student’s buttons. You don’t need to know the cause of the trauma to help the student. Within the relationship, you can ask the student what you can do to help.
2. Create a Positive Space. Keep positive quotes and visuals around you. Quite often the student may worry about what is going to happen next.
3. Notice the Students Character Strengths and Talk About Them. Emphasizing and encouraging the good you see in the student will help the student to feel safer with you.
4. Build Resistance. Self-regulation can be difficult for the student. Studies show that a traumatic experience can alter the brain and affect how someone reacts emotionally, socially, academically, and behaviorally. Toxic levels of stress and anxiety can shape behavior and make the student feel angry, depressed, checked out, uncooperative, or distracted.
5. Establish Clear Routines. Make activities and routines as predictable as possible.
6. Give the Students Opportunities for Control. Allowing them to feel empowered allows them to feel safer around you. Allowing them to know where to sit, how to complete a task, and letting them choose what method they’ll use to demonstrate understanding can help them realize that they are able to make their own choices and don’t have to continue to stay in the trauma situation that they are in.
If you know of someone who has experienced trauma, counseling support is available. Call 443-860-6870 to schedule an appointment or review the calendar to schedule a counseling appointment today.