As a mother of a high school student with severe anxiety I am so grateful for the existence of mandated reporting. It is easy to think that it's someone else's problem or that you don't want to get involved in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. But, the fact is, that many students may not have any other trusted adults in the lives but their teachers. Thinking about how to respond for the safety of the student and for the protection of yourself as a professional is imperative for all teachers.
