Emotional reactions

"Often young people don’t see adults getting upset… so they have no reference point"

Death is an emotive subject and there may be times when you experience an emotional reaction. Rather than trying to hide these feelings, it is better to model this for young people by:

• Acknowledging the reaction.
• Taking a moment to compose yourself.
• Reassuring pupils that you will feel better in a short while.

It is important to be kind to yourself and seek support to help you manage any strong feelings if you need to. You do not need to share any personal experiences unless you wish to. Other adults may be helpful by suggesting that you take a moment, reassuring the pupils and acknowledging the emotive nature of the subject.