Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events

• Report having physical problems such as stomachaches or headaches
• Have nightmares or other sleep problems, including refusing to go to bed. 
• Have trouble concentrating.
• Lose interest in activities they normally enjoy.
• Have feelings of guilt for not preventing injuries or deaths.
• Have thoughts of revenge.

• Cling to caregivers and/or cry and be tearful.
• Have tantrums, or be irritable or disruptive.
• Suddenly return to behaviors such as bed-wetting and thumb-sucking.
• Show increased fearfulness (for example, fear of the dark, monsters, or being alone).
• Incorporate aspects of the traumatic event into imaginary play

• Have problems in school.
• Withdraw or become isolated from family and friends.
• Avoid reminders of the event.
• Use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
• Be disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive.
• Be angry or resentful.

How adults respond to trauma can strongly influence how children and adolescents react to trauma. When caregivers and family members take steps to support their own ability to cope, they can provide better care for others.

Care givers and family members can help by creating a safe and supportive environment, remaining as calm adolescents need to know that their family members love them and will do their best to take care of them.

Do:

• Ensure children and adolescents are safe and that their basic needs are addressed.
• Allow them to be sad or cry
• Let them talk, write, or draw pictures about the event and their feelings
• Limit their exposure to repetitive news reports about traumatic events.
• Let them sleep in your room (for a short time) or sleep with a light on if they are having trouble sleeping.
• Try to stick to routines, such as reading bedtime stories, eating dinner together, and plying games.
• Help them feel in control by letting them make some decisions for themselves, such as choosing their meals or picking out their clothes.
• Pay attention to sudden changes in behaviors, speech, language use, or strong emotions.
• Contact a health care provider if new problems develop, particularly if any of the following symptoms occur for more than a few weeks: 
  • Having flashbacks (reliving the event)
  • Having a racing heart and sweating
  • Being easily startled
  • Being emotionally numb
  • Being very sad or depressed
    

Don't:

• Expect children and adolescents to be brave or tough.
• Make them discuss the event before they are ready.
• Get angry if they show strong emotions.
• Get upset if they begin bed-wetting, acting out or thumb-sucking.
• Make promises you can't keep (such as "You will b OK tomorrow" pr "You will go home soon."

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer a Disaster Distress Helpline, which provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7days a week. You can call or text the helpline at 800-985-5990 or visit the helpline website at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline.

SAMHSA also provides the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, an online tool for finding mental health services in your area. Find treatment programs in your state at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. For additional resources, visit www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp.

If you, your child, or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1800-273-TALK (8255). You also can text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741) or use the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website at httpa://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.