When the vocational training programs resumed, nearly three weeks had passed since the mass shooting at Campus Risbergska in Örebro, where ten people were killed and six injured.
The staff were worried that many students would not come to school on Monday, says Mikael Blom. But that was not the case.
Almost all of them came.
Those who did not come to school have been contacted to see if their absence is related to the incident, and if they can be supported to return.
"Then most want to come back"
Now, they are temporarily housed in the old premises of Virginska upper secondary school in central Örebro until the summer. Here, among other things, future nurses, childcare workers, teacher's assistants, and janitors are being trained.
No matter whether it's our employees or students, when a few weeks pass, you start striving for some kind of normality. Life will not be the same as before, but it will be as it should be in some way, says Blom and continues:
Then most want to come back.
Some students had not met since the incident. Initially, there was a lot of sorrow, but also a sense of everyday life taking over.
There are as many types of feelings as there are people, believes Blom. Now, they are doing their best to take care of the students and staff, where crisis support and occupational health services are important parts.
One of the adaptations is that there will be two teachers in each classroom during the first weeks.
How do you meet a group where several may be in crisis? Then it becomes something that calms our employees: I don't have to be alone in this, says Blom and continues:
We don't all have to be equally strong every day, but together we'll manage this.
There are those who feel fear
There are students who have expressed a fear, that it feels uncomfortable to come back – even though it's different.
That fear can also be about feeling very insecure about going shopping at Ica. It's not just the school that gives fear, but there's a fear of going out in a public environment, says Blom.
When is it reasonable to resume the training programs – or even start talking about it? That was discussed early among the staff. Starting a week earlier would not have worked, but waiting longer would not have made it better, believes Blom.
Now it's been almost three weeks. We feel that it turned out quite well.
