Safety is a primary concern for well-being, and a basic need for all of us. In order to grow and thrive, we need to feel safe. Even though there are many protective actions and policies to keep us safe, dangerous events still occur in our communities, affecting many people at once. Natural disasters (e.g., fires, hurricanes), community violence (e.g., school shootings, gang conflict), or accidents (e.g., plane or car crash) can occur in any community. In addition, assassinations, terrorist attacks, acts of violence against minoritized groups, wars, or refugee experiences may happen in or beyond our local communities with the potential for far reaching impact. With any of these threats to our safety, youth and families can be separated and/or displaced and experience fear and uncertainty.
What Is Trauma?
A traumatic event is a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to our life or bodily integrity. It can also be traumatic for us to witness an event that threatens the life or physical security of our loved one. These experiences can prompt strong emotional and physical reactions. In the moment, youth responses may involve:
- Feelings of terror, helplessness, or fear
- Heart pounding
- Vomiting
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions and physical responses
What Can You Do to Help Following a Traumatic Event?
Experiencing a traumatic event can take away our sense of choice and control. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has a wealth of information on trauma in youth. Here are a few strategies to help families cope immediately following a traumatic experience.
Promote Trust, Respect, and Empowerment
- Watch and listen for any changes in behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Each person may experience the traumatic event differently. Recognize that this is okay. Validate that the youth may have really strong emotions, which may cause them to feel isolated, even from well-meaning peers and adults trying to support them.
- Be honest, and refrain from making promises about an event “never happening.” Instead, focus on what is being done to keep them safe.
- Provide frequent opportunities for youth to talk about what happened and how they feel. Ask questions because youth may not know how to start the conversation. But, refrain from forcing them to talk. Frequent, shorter talks may be helpful as some children may have difficulty processing a lot of information at once.
- Encourage youth to think about the positive memories they have alongside the sadness or loss to remind them they will always have those memories.
- Be compassionate with each other. You may not feel like yourself or have your usual level of energy or sharp mind. Take breaks and allow yourself extra time to complete tasks.
Establish a Plan to Promote Safety and Security
- Establish a plan for communication with family members or students in the event of an emergency (e.g., laminate a card to be kept in backpack or purse, store information on phone).
- Review local guidelines and safety instructions. Knowing what is being done to improve security can reduce fear and other responses to trauma.
- Limit media and social media exposure. Watching coverage of the traumatic event can create more distress. Each time they are exposed to coverage, young children may believe the event is happening all over again. For older youth and teens, ask them what they have seen or heard to get a better sense of how they are processing the information. Correct any misunderstandings or confusion.
- When returning to the location of where the traumatic event occurred, consider whether the youth should go. This can be especially hard when a youth’s safe place has been compromised, such as in the case of a natural disaster or school shooting. If you decide not to let them go, explain why, and consider using pictures or videos to help them process from a safe distance. If you decide to let them go, think about the following in preparation:
- Set clear limits on how long you will be there.
- Acknowledge that it may make them angry, sad, or scared.
- Confirm that you will be there to support them.
- Show a picture or video of what the area looks like so they know what to expect.
- Ask what they hope to see or find and how they think they might feel.
- When you are separated for work, school, or other activities, be clear about what time you will be finished. If you are running late, communicate this to the youth. Traumatic experiences increase worries about being apart from loved ones, and clear expectations about when you will be together again are important.
Create and Follow a Schedule
- Practice healthy habits, such as following a daily schedule with regularly scheduled meals and snacks, physical activity, and a sleep routine. For more information on health behaviors, see our previous blogs on sleep, eating, physical activity, and screen time.
- Give yourself permission to have fun and take a break dealing with the trauma. Schedule activities that you enjoy, such as taking a walk, watching a movie, or listening to music.
Connect with Others
- Find ways to connect with friends, family members, your faith community, etc.
- Volunteer at local agencies and non-profit organizations, such as food banks, clean-up efforts, and assisted living facilities. Doing something good for someone else helps us to feel better and gives us a sense of purpose, especially when we feel a loss of control. For more recommendations, see our previous blog on effective communication and making a positive impact in your community.
Access Resources
- Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a program to help youth and families immediately following a disaster or traumatic event. Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is a program that was developed to help youth and families in the weeks and months following a traumatic event. Both PFA and SPR focus on reducing distress, promoting healthy coping, and preventing severe, lasting reactions to traumatic events. Studies have shown that PFA and SPR provide benefit to youth and families. The NCTSN has resources for training community leaders in PFA and SPR.
- See additional resources at the end of the blog.
When Could the Reaction Be a Significant Mental Health Concern, Such As PTSD?
Reactions to a traumatic event can persist weeks, months, or even years after the event. When youth develop a reaction that continues and significantly impacts their lives for a month or more, this may be traumatic stress. Symptoms can include physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral changes:
- Intense and continued emotional distress
- Depressive or anxiety symptoms
- Trouble regulating emotions and behavior
- Difficulty relating to others
- Irritability
- Attention and/or academic challenges
- Difficulty sleeping (e.g., nightmares, falling asleep late, waking up a lot) and eating
- Aches and pains
- Risky behaviors, such as substance use or unhealthy sexual activity
- Panic, racing heart, difficulty breathing
- Feeling as if the traumatic event is happening all over again
- Avoidance of reminders about the trauma
- Regression in behaviors (toileting, hygiene)
If a child is continuing to have trouble coping or often loses control, or their behavior impacts them or your family, at least a month after the traumatic event, it may be time to seek professional help. Interventions that focus on trauma informed care have shown benefit for youth experiencing significant trauma symptoms. Here are several links to directories for providers who have expertise in treating traumatic stress:
Additional Resources:
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a wide range of resources to support individuals affected by trauma. These include guides for caregivers returning to their neighborhoods after natural disasters, coping strategies following a mass shooting, and advice on talking to children about hate-based violence. Many resources are available in multiple languages and are tailored for teachers, administrators, behavioral health providers, youth, and caregivers.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has information about trauma informed medical care.
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About the Author
Janelle Wagner Ph.D., serves on the Professional Development Team as an Associate Trainer and Senior Consultant for PracticeWise. Learn more about Dr. Wagner on the PracticeWise team page.
