Psychological emergency in Graz: How do we help after the killing spree?

Psychological emergency in Graz: How do we help after the killing spree?

In a moving discussion about the consequences of the tragic killing spree on Borg Dreierschützengasse, the emergency psychologist Barbara Juen from the Red Cross and psychologist Margit Laufer made it clear how important acute care is for the students and teachers concerned. As Kleine Zeitung , the opportunity to process the loss of a loved one is at the center of the current efforts.

Returning to everyday school life is a great challenge. Students and teachers have to gradually get used to the place of what is happening, and rituals should help to regain a feeling of security. The experts emphasize that school psychologists, social workers and doctors have to play a crucial role in aftercare and prevention.

Need for school psychologists is growing

Currently, 32 school psychologists are used in Styria, including 16 from the region and another 16, which were consulted from other federal states. According to Kurier , the education director has announced the strengthening of the capacities on site. In the Helmut-List-Halle, an offer for crisis intervention is now being organized, which will continue until at least next Wednesday to help young people in small groups.

In these groups, individual needs are taken into account, and care is taken to prevent traumatizations. The young people have many questions about dealing with their fears as well as notes and exams. While some of them withdraw, others show open grief. There are still inadequate answers to the most pressing questions of how to talk about the deeds.

a deficit in the system

The need for increased supply of specialists in the field of school psychology is considered urgent by Juen. It refers to the example of Germany, where after the killing spree in Winnenden, the school psychologists took up. Your demand for improvements in the current ownership report shows that the problem is multi -layered. Tests that only focus on stress resistance are not sufficient, even comprehensive personality analyzes are necessary to prevent such tragedies in the future.

For effective crisis intervention, responsibility in schools must also be clearly regulated. In Germany, there have been systematic planning and instructions for school emergencies that have been developed in cooperation with school psychological specialists for two decades. In this way, the need for more comprehensive training and networking of school psychologists also becomes clear in Styria. Schulpsychology.de states that preventive measures and psychosocial emergency care are of essential importance.

It is unmistakable that there is an urgent need for action in the area of ​​school psychology. The exchange of experiences and a solid network will help to cope with the challenges and to restore security at schools.