Knowing your role and limits as an educator

As an educator, you are not expected to be a therapist. Your role is to notice, listen, care, and connect students to the right support when needed. Note: Avoid promising full secrecy. You may need to involve others if safety is a concern Helping also means knowing:
  • What you can do
  • What is not your responsibility
  • When to involve others
  • When not to rush into involving others
  • This balance is important for both student safety and trust

Know your limits

You can: You cannot:
  • Diagnose a student
  • Provide therapy
  • Promise to fix everything
  • Carry this alone
Try not to:
  • Labelling a student
  • Assuming what's going on
  • Saying things like: ‘you are depressed’, ‘you have anxiety’ or ‘this sounds like trauma’. This can make students feel misunderstood or judged

When NOT to involve others

A student opening up does not automatically mean you need to tell someone else. If your reaction is: ‘I have to tell someone right now.’, this can: Make a student shut down Break trust Stop future sharing It is usually NOT necessary to involve others immediately when: A student shares feelings They talk about stress or sadness They say things like: → ‘Sometimes I wish I wasn’t here’ → ‘Everything feels too much’ → ‘I’ve been hurting myself’ There’s no immediate danger Important to know: Talking about self-harm or suicide does NOT increase risk Being listened to can reduce stress and isolation Many young people share these thoughts to be understood, not reported Listening is already support

When TO involve others

When TO involve others It is appropriate to involve others when:
  • The student needs ongoing support
  • They keep struggling over a longer period, seem off most days, seems stuck, or need help beyond the classroom
  • You feel unsure how to help
  • You feel overwhelmed by the situation
  • School adjustments are needed long term
  • School policy requires it
Who can you involve:
  • School counsellor
  • Mentor
  • Care coordinator
  • Safeguarding staff
  • A trusted colleague
  • The school principal
 

When to involve parents or caregivers

Involving parents can help when:
  • There are safety concerns
  • Support is needed at home
  • Long-term adjustments are needed
  • School policy requires it
Make sure to:
  • Involve students where possible
  • Explain what you will share and why
  • Focus on support, not punishment
Be extra careful when:
  • Home is part of the stress
  • There are safety concerns at home
  • The student fears punishment
  • There is family conflict
  • In these cases don’t rush, talk to support staff first and protect trust where possible.

When to get immediate help

Immediate action is needed when a student:
  • has a plan to harm themselves
  • says they cannot keep themselves safe
  • is in acute crisis right now
Be honest with your student. You can say: ‘I’m really glad you told me. I care about your safety, and because of that I need to involve someone who can help keep you safe.’