Even though it's been a few weeks since students came home, they may still be feeling depressed. Their depression may return on a day a major event was supposed to happen. Here's how to exist around a student who came home recently.
DO express your sorrow
Just a simple "I feel for you" may be all that's needed.
DON'T say "think of the other people"
Trust me, we are more than well aware that other students are suffering. Their suffering doesn't mean we have to be quiet about our pain.
DO be a shoulder to cry on
Sometimes there doesn't need to be words. Just being present for students is one of the most important things.
DON'T shrug off their feelings
Please do not tell us to just "suck it up" or tell us to "stop crying because we're home." Some of us had our entire lives upturned in a timeframe of less than a week. Some of us in a frame of less than a single day.
DO offer resources to talk to
If you feel as if you're unfit to handle the situation, or see severe depressive episodes, don't be afraid to ask for help! There are a number of free (or affordable) services such as Sanvello, BetterHelp, or for young LGBTQ+ people, The Trevor Project.
DON'T threaten them with anything
If a student is feeling even mildly upset about their situation, DO NOT THREATEN THEM WITH HOSPITALIZATION OR PUNISHMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE SAD. They're going through what may be an extreme change.
DO remind them they have a safe space to come home to
Easy. Blood relatives or chosen family, remind your students they have a safe space to come home to. Going away to college may have been their safe space.
DON'T invade their space.
You're going to be having a full-time student who lived in another place, who may have a job (or two) where they work from home. The last thing they want is someone nagging them and invading their space.
