Personal Responsibility:

Getting Help

Being a personally responsible student at your school will help you to get help when you need it.

	Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness rather it is a sign of maturity.

If you need help or just someone to talk to, there are a lot of people who would be more than happy to help. Many students go to their parents or guardians seeking help and certainly guardians are one great resource. Some students don’t feel comfortable talking with their parents or guardians about being bullied, having an eating disorder or using drugs. This is certainly understandable but that doesn’t mean it is ok not to get help.

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It is hard for some of us to ask for help because we don’t want to be judged as weak. Asking for help is actually a sign that you are strong enough to know you need help. If you don’t feel comfortable going to your parents or guardian, there are several other adults who can help.

	Is there a trusted staff member, perhaps a teacher or counselor, who you would be comfortable talking to?

Principals have a great deal of experience working with students who are having difficulties getting along in school. Also, principals often know about the best outside resources for students. A principal can be a great person to reach out to.

Does your school have a School Resource Officer? Did you know that part of a School Resource Officer’s job is to counsel students who are having difficulty? Learn more about the roles of an SRO.

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Other fantastic resources are your school nurse, the counselor, a trusted neighbor or family friend. You may also feel more comfortable talking about one issue to one person and a different issue to someone else.

	If you are concerned that your friend has an eating disorder, you may feel best talking with your school nurse or health teacher because of their expertise.

If you are having trouble with a bully, you may want to talk to your School Resource Officer. Regardless of whether you are having a problem now, it is important to know where to turn if a problem should occur.

Follow-Up Activity:   Fill out the Personal Support Network Checklist so that you are prepared should an issue arise.