Helping Children After Tragic Events: Information for Teachers & Providers
Stay informed.
It’s important for you to understand the serious impact that tragic events can have on kids, and how to help them.
- Know signs and symptoms of stress in children.
- Know how to talk to children about what they are feeling and how to comfort kids of all ages during and after tragic events.
- Know where to find materials to share with families.
- Remember to check out professional organizations and academic institutions for materials to learn more and find best ways to help families.
Remember:
Your reaction to a tragic event affects your ability to help the children in your care. Adults should also get help when they are feeling overwhelmed.
Find resources and programs that can help you by visiting these links:
- Mental Health Program Directory: a portal to help you find a provider of mental health services.
- Coping with a Traumatic Event: a fact sheet from the CDC that outlines some symptoms you might be experiencing and where to go for help.
- NYS/Crisis Text Line Partnership: New York State has partnered with Crisis Text Line, an anonymous texting service available 24/7. Starting a conversation is easy. Text GOT5 to 741741.
You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline, which provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Callers and texters are connected to trained and caring professionals from a network of crisis centers across the country. Helpline staff provide supportive counseling, including information on common stress reactions and healthy coping, as well as referrals to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support.
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs or Hablanos to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
The Disaster Distress Helpline’s number 1-800-846-8517 is available to all hard of hearing and deaf people.
Resources
For Teachers
- Helping Children After a Natural Disaster: Tips for Parents & Educators: Infographic that describes how teachers can help children cope after natural disasters.
- Helping Children Cope with Terrorism: Tips for Families & Educators: Outlines ways that adults can help children cope with terrorism.
- Tips for Talking With & Helping Children & Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: Gives tips on helping children cope with trauma, including when to seek more help.
- Caring for Children in a Disaster: Resources for Teachers & Childcare: Gives links and resources on how to care for children as learners during and after tragic events.
- Helping Students Cope with Media Coverage of Disasters: Video that teaches educators how to help their students cope with media coverage of tragic events.
- Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event: Provides some tips for how teachers can help their students following a traumatic event.
For Healthcare Providers
- ProjectTeachNY: Primary care providers can call Project TEACH for easy access to consultations with a child-and-adolescent psychiatrist, to receive the training they need to make the best decisions for children with mental health needs, and for help with linkage and referrals to intervention, treatment, and support services for children and families.
- Children & Disasters: Gives information for providers on how to meet their patients’ needs during tragic events.
- Caring for Children in a Disaster: Resources for Health Professionals: Gives links for resources on how to care for children during and after tragic events.
- Sesame Street in Communities, Traumatic Experiences: Gives information for providers on how to help children after a traumatic experience. The site includes videos and activities for children from the ages of 0-6, and links to advice for adults on offering comfort, exploring emotions, and more.
- Select Disaster Behavioral Health Resources: Leads to a clearinghouse of resources and further links for healthcare providers.