Providing Support When Challenging Things Happen:
Talking to Children and Teens

• Mass violence events evoke a range of emotions and concerns of safety in the community. In response, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. 

Resources Include: 

• Coping After Mass Violence (for adults)
• Coping After Mass Violence (for teens)
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After Mass Violence
• Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
• After A Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
• Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
• Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing(for responders)

Psychological First Aid: 

The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. The PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provides a quick reminder of the core actions. PFA Handouts include:

• Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers(En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers(En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children(En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents(En Español)
• Tips for Adults(En Español)
• Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) – Field Operations Guide
• Providing PFA-S: For Health-Related Professionals 
• Providing PFA-S: For Principals and Administrators
• Providing PFA-S: For School Support Staff
• Providing PFA-S: For Teachers 

National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center: 

• Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
• Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
• Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
• Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
• Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
• E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
• Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University:

• Grief Leadership: Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy
• Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding to Stressful Events
• Coping with Stress Following a Mass Shooting

Disaster Helpline:

• SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.

Additional Resources from NCTSN:

For those that are needing technical assistance or additional resources, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Melissa Brymer at mbrymer@mednet.ucla.edu.

K-12 School Specific Resources: 

• Resources After A Tragedy, Colorado School Safety Resource Center
• The Role for Caring Adults After a School or Community Tragedy