Helping Children Cope With Fear and Anxiety After Sniper Shootings

Prepared by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA)

The recent sniper attacks in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. and the resulting media coverage may cause fear and anxiety among adults and children. The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) has developed these tips for adults and children to help them understand and cope with the range of reactions they may experience.

"Anytime you have random shootings with no known motive there's bound to be widespread fear in the community and even across the country, " said Mike Faenza, NMHA President and CEO. "Children in particular may experience fear, anxiety and a sense of personal risk. Adults can help them by talking openly about the shootings and children's feelings."

Some things to help you help the children you care for are:

• Talk to your kids about their feelings. Encourage them to express their feelings by talking, drawing or playing.
• Validate children's feelings. Let them know that serious acts of violence are not common, which is why incidents such as these shootings and the September 11 terrorist attacks attract so much media attention.
• Talk honestly about your own feelings regarding violence. It is important for children to recognize they are not dealing with their fears alone. Let them know that it's difficult for all of us to come to terms with what happened.
• Discuss the safety procedures that are in place at your children's school, in your neighborhood and in other public places.
• Create safety plans with your children. Ensure that your kids know how to reach you (or another family member or friend) in case of crisis.
• Empower children to take action regarding their safety. Encourage them to report specific incidents (such as bullying, threats or talk of suicide) and to develop problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Keep the dialogue going and make safety a common topic in family discussions rather than just a response to an immediate crisis.
• Seek help when necessary. If you are worried about a child's reaction, or have ongoing concerns about his or her behavior or emotions, contact your pediatrician or a mental health professional at school or at your community mental health center. We at MHA of Westchester can direct you to resources in your community. Call our Information and Referral Service at 914-345-5900, extension 240 or contact us by e-mail at help@mhawestchester.org.

Signs That Children May be Having Trouble

Signs that children may be having trouble coping may include:

• Fearfulness about leaving the house or going to school
• Loss of interest in friends and activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Persistent nightmares
• Frequent worrying
• Talk of death or suicide
• Increased tearfulness
• Irritability or anger

NMHA offers additional recommendations, so visit their web site to find their fact sheet on:

Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/talkingToKidsAboutFearAndViolence.cfm.

October 2002

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