by Deborah K. Takahashi, April 2019

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control reported that suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst people between the ages of 10 and 34. The National Alliance on Mental Illness also reported that that 20% of youths aged 13-18 live with a mental health disorder (NAMI 2016). Unfortunately, over the last forty years, death by suicide amongst teenagers has risen 30% among males and 5% among females (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2017). Mental health disorders are on the rise and teens are more vulnerable than ever. As a school librarian, you have the ability to help your students understand and recognize mental illness and how to get help. In my book, Serving Teens with Mental Illness in the Library: A Practical Guide, I describe several things you can do to prepare yourself for a mental health crisis, how to assist a teen during a mental health crisis, and how to implement a self-care plan.

To understand the origins and signs of teen mental illness, you need to educate yourself. Does this mean you need to read every book on adolescent psychology? Not at all. While there is a vast array of mental health resources in print or online, the best place to start is with the basics. Whether it's researching resources from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), you can learn about the causes, signs, and treatment options for the various types of mental health disorders. In addition to these resources, take a look at teen-focused resources, such as Teen Mental Health: Medline Plus or Canada's TeenMentalHealth.org, that you can share with your students.

Along with educating yourself, look into training opportunities that you, your fellow educators, and staff can attend. One great resource is the school nurse or mental health counselor as they are trained to handle these types of emergencies. Another resource is your local city/county public health department or local mental health community who can help train or provide you with resources to navigate a mental health crisis. If your school, or district, is interested in having staff trained in mental health first aid, Mental Health USA can provide a Youth Mental Health First Aid training for staff. In fact, school districts may be eligible for grant funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide school staff with training.

In the event your school, or district, is unable to provide training, you can still assist teens by knowing who and when to contact in the event of an emergency. If you have yet to connect with your school nurse, or mental health counselor, now would be a great time to introduce yourself and ask them how you can help your students. These individuals are trained in managing crises so utilize their expertise and, if need be, keep their contact information readily available to help connect your students to immediate care. As a school librarian, you are NOT responsible for diagnosing and treating a student, but you can contact those who can assist teens in crisis.

Once you have a better understanding of mental illness, it would be a good idea to develop a set of procedures to assist a teens during a mental health crisis. Again, work with your school nurse, or mental health counselor, to see if they can work with you and your administration to better assist teens in need. If for some reason they are unavailable, here are some tips to consider when developing procedures:

• Observe the teen's behavior and determine if you need to call 9-1-1
• Stay calm and approach the teen slowly (ask a colleague to assist if you feel you need the support)
• If the teen seems agitated, or aggressive, keep an arm's-length distance between you and the teen
• Listen carefully, be respectful, and take their concerns seriously
• Watch your facial expressions and body language
• Ask simple and direct questions

Always remember that your safety is just as important as their safety. In other words, observe what the teen is experiencing and don't hesitate to call for help if you feel their life is in danger. As you develop these procedures, keep in mind that you are not obligated to treat or diagnose a teens during a crisis. Use these procedures as guidelines to support them and make it known you are there to help. If you do develop procedures, be sure to share them with your colleagues if mental health first aid training is not available. If you encounter any resistance from staff, gently remind them that they are not expected to diagnose or treat students. However, they do have the skills to connect teens to resources and services so they can get help. Also, in the event of the emergency, they can call on you for assistance or dial 9-1-1. Helping teens in crisis is a team effort so be sure to support your staff, but also rely on those who can guide you through the process.

While it's important to prepare for a crisis so is recovery. After assisting a teen in need, take the time to process your emotions by using your coping mechanisms to decompress. Self-care is essential in these types of situations so always give yourself time to rebound. If you don't currently employ a self-care plan, now is the time to create one. Self-care plans don't have to be elaborate, but they should be tailored to meet your needs. One great resource I recommend, which has great advice for developing and sticking to a self-care plan, is the University of Buffalo's School of Social Work Self-Care Starter Kit. This kit has lot of great ideas, especially if you need to update or change your current plan. If you haven't been following through with your plan, you will want to figure out why and employ new skills to make sure you follow through.

As a school librarian, you have a passion for serving youth. More importantly, you have the ability to help them thrive in today's world. Whether it's providing them with mental health information or checking on them when they seem upset, you can have a profound effect on teens simply by supporting them. As you research mental illness or attend a mental health first aid training, you also have a responsibility to yourself so remember to be kind to yourself and understand that you can only do so much.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "QuickStats: Suicide Rates, for Teens Aged 15–19 Years, by Sex—United States, 1975–2015" Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report August 04, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a6.htm.

NAMI. "Mental Health Facts: Children & Teens" National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2016. https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/Children-MH-Facts-NAMI.pdf

National Institute of Mental Health. "Suicide." 2018. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml.