Title: The Effects of Secondary Traumatic Stress on Educators — Page 2 of 3 — TTT4U
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Content: The Effects of Secondary Traumatic Stress on Educators — Page 2 of 3 — TTT4U
The Effects of Secondary Traumatic Stress on Educators
Secondary traumatic stress is not uncommon for educators who work with traumatized children. Teachers, principals, and school staff members who deal with these children develop their own symptoms of traumatic stress. This is called secondary traumatic stress (STS). Other names for secondary traumatic stress are compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Per The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the first-hand trauma experiences of another. Most don’t know that about half of American school children suffer or experienced some form of trauma from abuse, neglect, or violence. This statistic crosses ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic lines. In response to the shock, educators take on the role of counselor or social worker to support the emotional healing of the students. Teachers are trained to help the academic growth of students, not necessarily their social-emotional needs. If we want success for our students and good health and success for our educators, we must begin to acknowledge the effects of secondary traumatic stress on our staff members.