I have referred many students to our school counselor if it appears the student is in the midst of a time of crisis or distress. I had one particular student who engaged in some physically masochistic behavior. When we discovered this, we referred her immediately to our school counselor who then referred her to psychological health professionals. Though this seems to be the right move to make for her health and well-being, she was also taken out of school for two weeks, which to me, did not seem like the most helpful course of action--to isolate her from her friends, her teachers, and others who show her warmth.
Students at this age make rash decisions. They are just starting to have incredibly powerful impulses and emotions and lack the knowledge and experience necessary to safely navigate through this uncharted territory. Additionally, our school, which includes grades K-8, doesn't have enough resources to help all of our students in their time of need. With one guidance counselor and one psychologist to serve all grades, many students aren't getting the attention required to help them through their challenges.
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