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COPING WITH TRAGEDY

�Tips for supporting children & youth who may be struggling ��

Monitor

Mediate

Mitigate

Hospital for Sick Kids-Mediasmarts.ca

TIMING MATTERS�

• Bring up sensitive topics at a time and place where a discussion can occur.

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• If there are distractions, a shortage of time or if either you or your child are too tired or busy, it is likely the conversation will be interrupted.

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• Do not assume children/youth are unaware of news events

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• Look for signs of anxiety/worry in children/youth

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Visit/Attend Let’s Connect about Mental Health & Well Being Webinars

Visit Virtual Office Hours for Consultations with Professional Support Services Staff

BEGIN BY LISTENING�

• Let your child tell you what they believe they know, how they learned it and how they are feeling.

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• Don’t rush to correct or reassure. Allow them to finish their thoughts.

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• Open-ended questions are better than specific ones.
• It is better to ask, “How are you feeling about what happened?” than “Are you scared because of what happened?” You can be a bit more specific if general questions fail.

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Student Voices

Café Break

Virtual Museum

RESPOND TO THE CHILD/YOUTH’S CONCERNS�

• Concerns may be specific or general, concrete or abstract, closely related to the events or related very little.

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• Address what they are concerned about. Talk to them with ideas they can handle at their age. If you help them with their concerns today they will likely share more in the future.

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• Help children to feel safe

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• Talk about feelings; label feelings

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• Talk about how you are feeling and what your strategies are using to deal with worry/anxiety

Substance Use & Addictions Resources

Daily Anxiety/Stress Management Reduction Resources

LIMIT MEDIA EXPOSURE�

• Exposure to the news and social media can be overwhelming.

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• Help children/youth analyze media coverage/complex questions

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• Expand your source of information

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• Emphasis the importance of respect; acceptance of difference

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• Encourage critical conversations that include student identities and voice

Grief & Loss

Resources

Equity Dept:

Resource for Teachers: Understanding Hate in Protests

NEW STRESSES CAN BRING UP OLD MEMORIES�

• When a child is confronted with a crisis, losses and upsets from the past may be remembered.
• They may or may not wish to talk about these old issues.

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• Emphasize assets and strengths of students (voice, care, empathy, compassion etc.)

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Immediate Contacts for Supports and Resources

DISCUSS STRATEGIES: �CREATING SAFETY�

• Talk with your child about specific things you can do to make them feel secure.
• Who are the people who can be part of their circle of care

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• Let the child/youth know they can take action by researching what they can do with your support.

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Virtual Lounges &

Heritage Virtual Lounges

NEW STRESSES CAN BRING UP OLD MEMORIES�

• When a child is confronted with a crisis, losses and upsets from the past may be remembered.
• They may or may not wish to talk about these old issues.

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• Emphasize assets and strengths of students (voice, care, empathy, compassion etc.)

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Student Mental Health & Well Being Resources

Parent Resources Mental Health & Well Being Resources

REACH OUT FOR HELP�

• Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact their school principal for more information about additional supports through our Professional Support Services department, which are available to help students with any challenges they may be experiencing.

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Culturally Responsive Resources

Black Mental Health Day/Week

Resources

EVERY CHILD AND YOUTH IS DIFFERENT�

• Children deal with stress in many different ways and at different paces.

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• Be patient

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• While children may not wish to talk today, they may wish to talk in weeks or days to come. Follow up discussions may be helpful

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Mental Health & Well Being Website

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Tips for Coping with Tragedies

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Hospital for Sick Kids-Mediasmarts.ca

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Prepared by:

Imani Hennie-Hamadi-Mental Health Lead

Annette Grossi-Mental Health Leads

Christina Alexiou-MSW Placement Student

Shameen Sandhu, System Leader Mental Health & Professional Support Services

Additional Resources