TEACHERS ANSWER PLEASE!!! What would you do if your student wanted to talk with !

TEACHERS ANSWER PLEASE!!! What would you do if your student wanted to talk with you about some problems...?

I want to talk to my teacher about a few things that have happened in the past that have been bothering me lately, things mostly revolving around family and friends. I have friends I could talk with about this, but they aren’t the type of friends that take what I say seriously. During the end of the school year she noticed that something was going on with me because I was acting different and doing things that I normally didn't do, or I would be a lot more angry and sad then usual and asked me what was wrong a few times. I never told her because i was scared i guess.
What would you do if a student told you about how they used to cut themselves [& that they could maybe start again] and how they almost tried suicide once, but didn’t because a friend stopped them? Would you tell their parents?
And do you think it’s wrong to just tell her all these things, during the summer [I’m going to help her in school] since she doesn’t even have to really see me? How do i approach her with it?
Thanks

1 week ago
I'm 14 going into the 9th grade... She was my 8th grade teacher.

1 week ago
I am not hurting myself and I won't commit suicide and I'm not suicidal... I just want to talk with her about it because there's nobody else I can really talk to and I been keeping stuff bottled up, which hasn't helped. The problems aren't things going on now. They're in the past, and it has to deal with family issues, not really issues with me and my parents. They're not abusive or anything like that, but they do tend to avoid talking about the issue I want to talk about with my teacher.

Teachers have a legal responsibility to report anything about a child that they deem to be harmful to the student.

If you have been cutting or attempting to end your life, it's going to be a lot more then just your teacher can handle. While she will be more then willing to listen to any and all of your problems and definitely want to help you sort through things, she's also got a responsibility to uphold because she is an authority figure in your life.

Take things slow with her, let her know a few things that have happened that you know she wouldn't need to bring in an outside party...feel her out first. Then, once you have established that relationship, take it a bit further. Teachers want to help, and want their students to succeed not only at school, but in life, so let her in, but don't be afraid if she does need to bring in outside help for your particular situation because maybe she'll be able to help refer you to a trusted person that you can discuss things further with and in more depth.

My last thought on this is, if it's a matter of you not thinking your parents will understand or you don't want to hurt their feelings...you need to get over that quickly. Parents will feel more hurt that you couldn't come to them first with your problems to help sort them out. Unless they are the source of the problems you are encountering, I would do the same thing with them that I suggested with your teacher...feel them out with the small stuff...work up to the big stuff.

And whatever you do, remember, you are here for a reason...you are an important part of somebody else's life. You may not see it right now, but there is somebody in your life who looks up to you. There's always somebody that does.