LCSD COVID-19 Mental Health Awareness Volume I | Page 23

⊲ ⊲ Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
● ● Spanish speakers in the continental United States can text “Hablanos” to 66746.
● ● Spanish speakers in Puerto Rico can text “Hablanos” to 787-339-2663.
⊲ ⊲ Visit https://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.
Help in the First Days and Weeks
After a disaster or other traumatic event, there are steps people can take to help adult
trauma survivors cope, making it easier for them to provide better care for children and
adolescents. These include creating safe conditions, remaining calm, being friendly, and
connecting with others. Being sensitive to people under stress and respecting their
decisions is important.
When possible, help people:
⊲ ⊲ Get food.
⊲ ⊲ Find a safe place to live.
⊲ ⊲ Get help from a doctor or nurse.
⊲ ⊲ Connect with loved ones or friends.
⊲ ⊲ Find information on where to get help.
Don’t:
⊲ ⊲ Force people to tell their stories.
⊲ ⊲ Probe for personal details.
⊲ ⊲ Say things like “everything will be OK” or “at least you survived.”
⊲ ⊲ Say what you think people should feel or how people should have acted.
⊲ ⊲ Say people suffered because they deserved it.
⊲ ⊲ Be negative about available help.
⊲ ⊲ Make promises that you can’t keep, such as “you will go home soon.”
What can parents do to help children
and adolescents?
After a traumatic event, parents and family members should identify and address their
own feelings—this can allow them to help others. Explain to children what happened
and let them know that:
⊲ ⊲ You love them.
⊲ ⊲ The event was not their fault.
⊲ ⊲ You will do your best to take care of them.
⊲ ⊲ It’s okay for them to feel upset.
Do:
⊲ ⊲ Allow children to be sad or cry.
⊲ ⊲ Let children talk, write, or draw pictures about the event and their feelings.
⊲ ⊲ Limit viewing of repetitive news reports about traumatic events. Young children may
not understand that news coverage is about one event and not multiple similar events.
⊲ ⊲ Give extra attention to children who have trouble sleeping. Let them sleep with a
light on or let them sleep in your room (for a short time).