Creating A Trauma Sensitive School Environment
Many classrooms in Jamaica are impacted by the lingering and life changing effects of trauma. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. According to the APA immediately after the event shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headache and nausea. Students in Jamaica for the most part have become collateral pawns in the almost daily incidents of domestic and intimate violence and abuse which many families experience. Recently, the all girls St. Hugh’s High School community suffered the loss of one of their brightest student when 15 year Tashi Munda died after her home was fire-bombed allegedly by her step father. Sadly, this type of trauma keeps repeating itself across the educational landscape affecting students in various school communities in both ur...
