What is the Student Stress Investigation?
The SSI is a set of 96 cards (+ 2 blank cards) designed to assist students to share information about things they find difficult at school. The SSI amplifies student voice and assists adults to identify school-based stressors. Identifying stressors is an important precursor to reducing stress and removing any barriers that may be impacting the student’s energy levels and capacity to attend school. Without this important information, interventions designed to help a student remain engaged, or return to studies, are likely to be less effective or ineffective.
The SSI cards canvas a wide range of aspects of the school experience that students commonly struggle with including: sensory issues, cognitive challenges, peer relationships, staff relationships, struggles with school work, distraction, and belonging. Each card describes a task or situation that might be difficult for the student. Two blank cards prompt the student to think whether there are any other things that are stressful that were not listed by the cards.
The SSI assists adults to be curious about the student’s experiences of school and identify stressors inorder that they can work towards reducing student stress and restoring student capacity and engagement.
The SSI is designed by Tiffany Westphal. Read more about Tiffany here.
The SSI reflects an understanding that:
What is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. “Safety is in the eye of the beholder”- Mona Delahooke
Our nervous system’s detection of safety or threat impacts our capacity for social engagement and learning.
A stressor identified is one that can potentially be resolved or reduced.
Students often don’t have the power or agency to change things that cause them stress at school.
Stress results in an involuntary (autonomic) nervous system response of fight, flight, collapse or submit.
Reducing chronic stress is protective of mental health and well-being and increases capacity for learning engagement.
The SSI can be used to:
Get to know a student’s support needs if they are new to you, or new to the school.
Gain a better understanding about why a student is unable or reluctant to attend school.
Identify barriers to learning and engagement.
Shape student supports and individual learning requirements.
Inform student advocacy priorities.
How to use the SSI:
The Student Stress Investigation can be used 1 on 1 with a student or in small group situations. In the social work clinic with students aged 10+ Tiffany typically reviews the SSI with a student 1 on 1, across 2 x 1 hour sessions. Older students can review the cards independently within 30- 40 minutes. The real value is not just in the identification of stressors but also in the conversations and connection one makes with the student as you build a relationship where they see you as interested in their well-being and see value in having you as a member of their support team.
Engaging in the card sort and using it to communicate compassion and open up conversation assists adults to develop a detailed understanding of the student’s perspective. This is critical. You cannot begin to find solutions or plan supports unless you thoroughly understand the problem from the student’s perspective.
Who is the SSI intended to be used by?
Any professional who works with students, or provides support in relation to the student’s experience of school including:
Social workers
Psychologists
Counselors
Well-being staff
Learning support or learning diversity staff
School engagement outreach staff
Youth workers
