The devastating tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, will have ripple effects across communities, our state, and the nation in the months and even years to come. Similar to adults, children and adolescents are likely to experience a range of emotions after hearing about this traumatizing situation.
Resources are provided below that were developed by our Trauma and Grief Center and developed or compiled from other trusted organizations addressing child and adolescent trauma and mental health, parent and caregiver support, mental health education, and more.
We hope these resources help in the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting, as parents and caregivers talk to children about the tragedy and seek to decrease their distress, and as we all focus on our own mental health in addition to that of our loved ones.
From the Trauma and Grief Center
This resource offers tips for parents and caregivers:
How to Help Children After the Uvalde School Shooting
Guidance on how parents and caregivers can support grieving children:
Helping Bereaved Youth after the Death of a Loved One
Mental Health Matters: Supporting Children in the Aftermath of Tragedy
June 2, 2022 webinar shares ways caregivers and educators can support children in the aftermath of a traumatic event:
From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has developed resources to help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:
Psychological First Aid
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA; En Español). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. PFA Mobile and the PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provide a quick reminder of the core actions. The PFA online training course is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center.
Additional PFA resources for schools include:
From the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center
From the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University
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.
Support Our Response to This Tragedy
To support the Meadows Institute and the Trauma and Grief Center’s response efforts, consider contributing to our Uvalde Mental Health Resiliency Fund. Visit our donation page or contact Vice President of Philanthropy, Emily Church, for more information.
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