Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which involves deliberate damage to body tissue without suicidal intent, has long been a concern for schools and school staff. Secondary schools are an ideal setting in which to identify, and appropriately refer, students who self-injure as well as implement evidence-based prevention and early intervention programs. However, in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, schools have been closed and students sent home to learn online. This may result in the exacerbation of existing anxieties and pose several new stressors that cumulatively may increase risk of NSSI. In this article, we draw on recent research and our collective experience working with schools, as well as digital mental health, to outline some of these potential stressors and offer resources for school staff to help students who are engaging in or at risk of NSSI.
Children with nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) have been found to be worse at recognizing facial expressions than children with verbal learning disabilities (LD) and without LD. However, little research has been done with adolescents. In addition, expressing and understanding facial expressions is yet to be studied among adolescents with LD subtypes. This study examined abilities of adolescents with NVLD, with general learning disabilities (GLD), and without LD to recognize, express, and understand facial expressions of emotion. Adolescents were grouped into those with NVLD, with GLD, and without LD using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (short form) and Wide Range Achievement Test—Third Edition. The adolescents completed neuropsychological, recognition, expression, and understanding measures. It is intriguing that the GLD group was significantly less accurate at recognizing and understanding facial expressions compared with the NVLD and NLD groups, who did not differ. Implications are explored with regard to the need to consider possible deficits in recognition and understanding of emotion in adolescents with LD in schools.
Difficulties exist in identifying and providing services for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). As teacher referral is an essential link in service delivery this study investigated teachers' current perceptions of SEBD by examining characteristics of children nominated by their teachers as having SEBD. While the majority of children were nominated for externalizing behaviours, teachers rated girls as having more severe externalizing difficulties than boys. In contrast, there was no significant difference between teachers' internalizing ratings of boys and girls, despite the fact that girls reported more severe depressive symptomatology. Moreover, teachers rated gender-contrary behaviours more severely than gender-consistent behaviours. Consistent with achievement results, teachers rated the majority of children as having moderate to severe academic difficulties. Little agreement was found between characteristics reported by teachers and children. Implications are discussed within the context of the school psychologist's role in working with teachers to increase awareness of the profile of these children.
The accumulation of struggles for students with highincidence disabilities, such as learning disabilities (LD) and behavioral disorders (BD), makes it critical to understand the factors that enhance the positive adjustment of these students. Relationships with others can help to buffer the effects of stressful life events and promote positive adjustment (Werner & Smith, 1989), and a growing body of theoretical and empirical work suggests that teachers play a vital role in children's development (Murray & Pianta, 2007;Pianta, 1999). It has been posited that teacher-student relationships can enhance positive developmental outcomes (Pianta, 1999). Specifically, these relationships have been shown to contribute to students' school adjustment, including psychosocial, behavioral, and academic functioning (e.g.
Over the past several years, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has emerged as a widespread concern in school settings worldwide. However, despite significant strides in NSSI research, there remains a substantial knowledge gap with respect to what school staff know.Unfortunately, this can contribute to stigma and ineffective responding when working with students who self-injure. In light of its high rates and the risks with which NSSI associates, including death by suicide, this is worrisome. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for advocacy in schools to ensure that NSSI is prioritized and for proper knowledge and training be offered to school staff. The current article serves as a call to action for school psychologists as leaders and advocates in meeting these needs. We begin by articulating the central issues pertinent to low NSSI literacy and high NSSI stigma in schools, followed by a series of research-informed recommendations for timely and effective advocacy. By virtue of undertaking these initiatives, school staff will be better able to respond to the needs of youth who self-injure and advocate for them. This, in turn, can foster an enhanced school climate and greater student well-being.
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