Resources for Parents, Youth and Communities
Hard things are hard – and talking to our kids about them is often even harder. As parents we know how difficult it can be to know how to best support our kids when they are exposed to, hear about or experience traumatic events, especially when it hits close to home in their school, community or inner circles. The short and long-term impacts of tragic events can be immense and many of us worry that our kids may never be the same. Luckily research shows that kids are remarkably resilient and that parents play a key role in helping children and youth recover. We also know that access to quality information, resources and support are also key. The more we as caregivers can learn about the effects of trauma and the range of reactions to it and feelings and behaviors that may follow it, the better prepared we will be to help our kid’s cope. We have been gathering resources from trusted partners for a variety of situations and will continue to update this page with resources we hope you never need but find helpful if you do.
For Parents & Caregivers
NCTSN Talking to Children About the Shooting
NCTSN Age-Related Reactions to A Traumatic Event
APA Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting
Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen (En Español)
Parent Tips for Helping School Age Children After Disasters
Talking to Teens About Frightening Events (En Español)
Sesame Street in Communities: Community & Gun Violence
SAMHSA Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Talking to Children About Terrorist Attacks & School & Community Shootings in the News
NIMH Helping Children & Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events
AAP Talking with Children About Disasters
CDC Helping Children Cope During & After a Disaster
After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
AAP Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events
Going Back to School After a Tragedy
Anxiety Over School Shootings – Finding proactive ways to deal with worried feelings
Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting
Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting SPANISH
Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting
NCTSN School Shooting Resources
Featured New Parent Resources
National Child Traumatic Stress Network I Don’t Know How To – Parent Series – Explores difficult topics to help equip parents with the tools to navigate and provide support for various mental health conditions. This video series is a set of conversations between parents and providers discussing varying topics related to difficult situations and conversations parents find themselves in with their children.
I Don’t Know How to Address Worries About My Child’s Safety at School
Includes discussion from providers who work with families, communities, and schools before, during, and after violent events as well as parents and school staff, to explore personal experiences faced by those who have struggled to deal with and address their child’s safety at school. view
My Child is Suicidal and I Don’t Know How to Help
Explores personal experiences faced by parents who learn that their child is struggling with suicidal thoughts, teachers who support youth struggling with suicidal thoughts in school, and providers who help youth and families negotiate recovery from suicidal ideation. view
I Don’t Know How to Navigating My Child’s Worries About Bullying
Explores personal experiences faced by parents whose children are dealing with bullying in school and the challenges that accompany a successful intervention to stop the bullying behaviors. view
Resources For Youth and Young Adults
For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Español)
College Students – Coping After the Recent Shooting
For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Español)
For Teachers, Educators
CRWS Talking to Students About Violence
NCTSN Helping Youth After Community Trauma – Tips for Educators (En Español)
Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
After the Injury—website for families with injured children
Health Care Toolbox—website for pediatric health providers working with injured children
Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español) (for responders)
Adults/General Resources
NCTSN Coping After Mass Violence
SAMHSA Incidents of Mass Violence
Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults
The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC)
Grief Resources
Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
NCTSN Helping School Age Children With Traumatic Grief (En Español)
Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
SAMHSA Resources
SAMHSA Disaster/Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After Community Violence
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
Other Resources
Bounce Back Now—Bounce Back Now is a free mobile app available through the Google Play and App Stores. It is intended to help people with coping and resilience after a natural disaster or incident of mass violence.
Mental Health Considerations After a Traumatic Event—Voices Center for Resilience
Suicide Awareness, Prevention & Support Resources for Families
How To Talk to Your Child about a Suicide Attempt in Your Family
MDHHS Suicide Prevention Website
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention & Survivor Resources
Children, Teens and Suicide Loss flipbook.pdf
Surviving Suicide Loss Resource Healing Guide flipbook.pdf
SAVE Suicide Awareness Voices of Education Publications/Resources:
Explaining Suicide to Children
Crisis Resources
If you are in a crisis, or know someone who needs help now
Dial or Text 988
Or to chat click Lifeline Chat
Calls are free and confidential, and available 24/7.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that provide free & confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What Happens When You Call The Lifeline?
First, you’ll hear an automated message featuring additional options while your call is routed to your local Lifeline network crisis center. We’ll play you a little music while we connect you to a skilled, trained crisis worker. then A trained crisis worker at your local center will answer the phone. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and get you the help you need.