Restorative Practice-Mental Health

This systematic approach should be used when a student is discriminated against, bullied, or
harassed due to known or perceived mental health related issues.

1. Understanding the Issue

a. Administrator: Meet with students individually in order to understand all parties
concerns, language used, what led to the situation, establish motives, etc.
b. Administrator: Contact parents
c. Administrator: Communicate findings with counselor/social worker/case
manager/other school staff deemed necessary

2. Setting Priorities
a. Administrator: Help the victim to feel heard, and assure them they are cared
about, what happened was absolutely not okay, and the situation will be
addressed in a timely manner. Encourage the victim to continue reporting any
other fall-out from the incident so it can be investigated and addressed.
b. Social Worker/Counselor: Meet with the victim in order to process the situation
and determine where the victim is emotionally. Use scale/professional judgement
to determine where the victim’s current feelings fall on a 1-5 scale (1 being
stable, 5 being unstable)
■ If student is in zone 1-3, determine if they would be comfortable writing a
Victim Impact Letter or having a Remediation Meeting with the other
student.
■ If student is in zone 4-5, continue processing the situation, including
regular check-ins regarding the incident until the student is in a zone 1-3.
c. Social Worker/Counselor: Meet with the other student in order to process the
situation and determine where they are emotionally. Use scale/professional
judgement to determine where the other student’s current feelings fall on a 1-5
scale (1 being stable, 5 being unstable)
■ If student is in zone 1-3, move on to action steps
■ If student is in zone 4-5, continue processing the situation, including
regular check-ins regarding the incident until the student is in a zone 1-3.
d. Social Worker/Counselor: Determine how this situation will affect both students’
daily life at school.
■ Do they have classes with each other?
1. Administrator: If students do have classes together, this should be
addressed by moving the other student temporarily or permanently
depending on the situation.
■ Are they in the same friend group?
■ What supports do they feel they need to be successful following the
incident?
3. Taking Action/Raising Awareness
a. Other student should begin established educational component regarding mental
health
b. Both students should write letters (both approved and delivered by school staff in
a safe environment).
■ Victims’ letter stating how they were made to feel and how the other
student’s words/actions affected them
■ Other student’s letter should be apologetic in nature
c. A remediation meeting should be held including both students, and the school
social worker/counselor and administrator when appropriate.

4. Measuring Progress and Adjusting Strategies

a. After this process is complete, a timeline should be established with both
students for a check-in with either the administrator or social worker/counselor.
b. After check-in, progress will be assessed by administrator/social
worker/counselor in order to determine if any steps in the above process need to
be repeated.
c. If victim does have significant mental health needs and is not currently receiving
any support in this area at school, this should be addressed and a support plan
should be put into place.
d. Parents should be involved/contacted as needed throughout this process.
Rough Idea for Scale-

1-​ I feel normal/stable

2-​ I feel hurt/upset but I am trying to use my coping skills
3-​ I am stuck and spiraling and I am having a hard time coping on my own
4-​ I feel completely unstable and can't control my feelings/thoughts/pain
5- ​I​ am feeling suicidal.
*If yes do you have a plan and a means to carry out the plan?

Resources for Educational Component-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWaOsPiv-gw