Resources to Address the Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School
Our heart goes out to the families of the victims, the students who witnessed the violence, and the community of Newtown, CT. We never fully understand why these things occur. With each, tragic event we always look for clues that could have prevented the incident. We all have to be vigilant and teach our children to be vigilant in reporting any potential threat of violence. We all need to know what to do, who to tell and where to go for help. We have to create a safe environment, free from shame and stigma, so that young people will seek help.
FFCMH offers the following suggestions for teachers and parents as they communicate with young people:
- Communicate empathy for all who were involved
- Talk honestly about the incident and base conversations upon the developmental level of the young person
- Don’t pretend that you have the answers. Encourage young people to think about how we, as a community can design solutions
- Keep the dialogue going, even after the media coverage subsides.
Pay attention! If you are concerned about a young person’s reaction, seek help: Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) via phone 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. This helpline is dedicated to crisis counseling related to disaster/trauma and is available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Additional Resources and Websites
Resources for Coping with Truama
- A collection of trauma resources for parents and teachers
- Some tips for your students' parents about helping kids worried about going back to school after a tragedy.
Resources for Coping with School Shootings
- SAMHSA's Tips for Talking to Children and Youth After Traumatic Events: A Guide for Parents and Educators
- SAMHSA's Coping with Violence and Traumatic Events Website
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Coping With Crisis: Tips for Parents and Educators
- Coping with Crisis: Helping Children With Special Needs
- Dealing with a Death in School
- A Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools
- School Crisis Guide: Helping and healing in a Time of Crisis
Resources for Dealing with Tragedies in Schools
Additional Resources
- The Doctor's in, on Twitter / The LA Times
- Experts Urge Caution in Linking Shooter with Mental Illness / Connecticut Post
- Newtown Tragedy Could Put Mental Health in Spotlight / USA Today
- How To Talk To Your Kids About Conn. Mass Shooting / AP
- How To Talk To Your Kids About Killings / Discovery News
- Coping With the Recent School Shooting / Psychology Today
- Parents Guidelines for Helping Teens After the Recent Attacks
- Psychological Information Sheet Two Pager
- Talking to Children About the Shooting
- Youth Journalists
