We join the Garfield High School community and the rest of Seattle in mourning the senseless death of a teenage student due to gun violence after breaking up a fight on campus last Thursday. This follows a student injury near Garfield in March due to a drive-by shooting, and multiple other shootings in the community that have led to school lockdowns. The students, staff, and families at Garfield deserve to feel safe, and we join them in anger and grief that their safety is under frequent threat. To hear from students in their own words, see this social media post from the Seattle Student Union.
High-profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children and teens who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
Resources for Supporting Students:
It is also critical that educators - including school psychologists - continue to practice critical self-care. Following a crisis, teachers often need to provide additional support to the students in their classes. In addition, crisis responders and mental health professionals are tasked with providing crisis intervention and additional mental health support to the school community following a crisis event. Consequently, it is extremely important for caregivers to monitor their own reactions and take care of their own needs as failure to do so can result in stress and burnout.
Resources for Supporting Educators and Self Care:
If you are in need of additional support or resources, please reach out to WSASP.
Respectfully,
Mikael Olson, WSASP President
Carrie Suchy, WSASP Immediate Past President
Anna Casey, WSASP President Elect
Alex Franks-Thomas, Communications Committee Co-Chair
