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A Parent Advocate’s Message for School Nurses

By Suzan Norton posted 08-05-2021 12:56

  

Brothers DocumentaryI hope many of you were able to view "Brothers," a film directed by Mike Norton, my son and Reginald Groff, a professional filmmaker.  It was my honor to share my story with you at NASN2021 and to share the film with you for a limited time.  The film is appropriate for medical professionals, families, educators, and anyone who has been touched by mental illness.  It addresses disabilities; both physical and mental, and demonstrates people first, disability second.  Perhaps the most powerful part of the film is the illustration of John changing throughout the film as the schizophrenia progressed.  Please follow the Facebook Page for "Brothers" for more information and viewing opportunities.

School nurses can connect with students and families in many ways when it comes to mental health.  It is always appropriate to ask someone if they feel they may hurt themselves or someone else.  Being present and listening is crucial when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.  National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) has some excellent free teaching tools and resources for families.  Encourage your school to invest in library books that can educate students about mental health.  It’s important not to label people as they are a person first.  Another way to help families, is to let them know they can educate themselves.  The single most important book which gave me the skills to help my son, was entitled "I’m not sick, I don’t need help" by Dr. Xavier Amador of The Leap Institute.  There is also an organization called the Treatment Advocacy Center.  Their website is helpful and lists data by state.  They also have an app for emergency crisis situations.

As an advocate for mental health, I've learned to never take it lightly when someone talks about or tries to harm themselves; they can not be left alone as anything could occur.  The home needs to be a safe zone; free from weapons and other items that can cause harm.  Family members need to practice self-care and maintain a right frame of mind in the event a loved one needs to be transported to the hospital.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of overlap between mental illness and addiction.  From my perspective, I have had to hide the car keys to keep my son safe when he was not doing well.  A parent needs to stay vigilant when their child experiences a crisis.  Externally your child may appear fine and says they are fine; though you notice alarming behavior.  Beware because they may be having internal chaos and that is a red flag.

The death of a classmate by suicide is a sensitive topic.  It will be shocking no matter how it is announced.  It is best to speak from the heart and to be honest.  I think it would be wise to set up a discussion with parents and students together.  I believe this would benefit the community so dialogue and healing can occur.  Enlisting the help of NAMI and social workers to field questions and advise staff is a good idea.  I feel the message is better delivered by staff because of their relationship with students.  It is never appropriate to discuss the manner in which the person took their life.  Maintain respect for the student who passed as well as their family who is devastated by their loss.  It could also be an opportunity to teach students skills to help their peers.  Lastly, it could be helpful for students to write and share memories in a collection box which could be given to the family later.  This way, students can have some closure and families would most likely appreciate this beautiful gesture. 

Never give up on children. This is my opinion, as a parent who lost a son by suicide.

About Suzan Norton: Suzan Norton is a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. She had two sons, one diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and one with schizophrenia. She is known for helping both sons thrive and helping them navigate the medical systems to get what they needed. After her sons passed, she became a CNA to continue the work to honor them by helping others. Suzan was instrumental in supporting one of her sons and a professional filmmaker to make the Brothers Documentary. The film is a documentary and a tribute to her other son, who died by suicide. Suzan was part of the production team to complete the film in 2020. It is an uplifting film that is an excellent tool for medical professionals, educators, and anyone whose life has been touched by loss. In her efforts to be a strong advocate, Suzan became knowledgeable and experienced in non-ventilation techniques and caring for someone with mental illness and brain disorders. She has also worked on writing and editing publications for the National Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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