Helping those Supporting Others with Mental Health Crises

Staff who sit with a pupil in crisis often carry it home. Over weeks and months that can wear down into compassion fatigue: poor sleep, a short fuse, a constant sense of not doing enough. Left alone, it can become vicarious trauma or burnout.

You'll learn to recognise those signs in colleagues and in yourself, and what to put in place so nobody is left holding it alone. That means compassionate debriefs after a difficult incident, a simple exercise for mapping who each person turns to, peer support, and making sure everyone knows where help is, from your employee assistance programme to Education Support.

There's a short plan to follow too. Map your own support network today, remind colleagues what help exists next week, and review what happens after a crisis within the month.