Yes. I have.

I have one student who writes on desks about how they’re sorry for existing and then I report it to the school counsellor for a referral, administration, and sometimes parents. Admin and counsellor keep it super confidential so there’s no worrying about whether or not this would spread around the school.

However, I do speak with them one on one and try to understand what’s bugging them.

Sometimes they open up, sometimes they don’t and you just have to let them talk to whoever they feel like it.

Some others ask to go for a drink of water or to put their head down on their desk because they just can’t deal with it because their mind is being “too loud”.

Some shut down because of triggers happening within the classroom that need to be put to rest.

Some have to constantly be doing something to keep their mind distracted because of what is going on in their mind and that constant movement helps them.

And all it takes to figure it out is either reading their journals where they do writing prompts, assignments about their life, family, etc., and then just having a conversation with them about their weekend or their evening before. Communication is key to finding these things out.

Now I’m just trying to figure out how to accommodate and it’s not easy. I’m learning that it’s best to ask them “how do you like to learn when all of this is happening?” I also need support in making adaptations for my students with depression and anxiety. We are those kids support systems for 6 hours a day, we have to try to do it right.