When trauma of any sort happens in your life or the life of someone you love, or to the area in which you live, or anywhere in the world, you may wish for some suggestions on how to recognise the symptoms of distress and strategies for coping. We have gathered for you some information from various sources, and links to websites that may be of further assistance. We encourage everyone who has experienced a trauma to reach out to others and begin the healing process with the realization that there are good and caring people in the world.

Children and Trauma

The Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Prevention Resource Center lists symptoms that a child might exhibit after exposure to trauma, and what you can do to help the child.

Children's Responses - through Grade Two

The Counseling and Readjustment Services, Columbia, South Carolina, list symptomatic responses by younger children to trauma, and steps you can take to help them through this time.

Children's Responses - through Grade Five

The Counseling and Readjustment Services, Columbia, South Carolina, list symptomatic responses to trauma by children in grades three to five, and steps you can take to help them through this time.

Children's Responses - Adolescents

The Counseling and Readjustment Services, Columbia, South Carolina, list symptomatic responses to trauma by adolescents in grades six and up, and steps you can take to help them through this time.

UPMC Press Release

Mary Margaret Kerr, Ed.D., associate professor of child psychiatry and education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, provides advice on helping children cope with trauma.

Talking with Children When the Talking Gets Tough

Judith A. Myers-Walls, Extension Specialist, Purdue University, provides advice on helping children cope with trauma.

How to Talk to Children and Parents After a Disaster

From the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Talking Points

Adults and Trauma

The Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Prevention Resource Center lists symptoms that an adult might exhibit after exposure to trauma, and what you can do to help yourself.

Practical Guide

Here is another list of reactions to traumatic incidents and a practical guide to feeling better.

Sudden Death

When a sudden death occurs to someone you know, STAR-Center Outreach Services provides a Help Sheet covering: Reactions, What You Can Do, and Some Questions You May Have.

For Managers

Here are some suggestions for managers on how to help their employees after a traumatic incident.

http://www.fema.gov/

Federal Emergency Management Agency

http://www.fema.gov/kids/

FEMA for KIDS Homepage
"Welcome to FEMA for Kids! I'm Herman, the spokescrab for the site. This site teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and how you can prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid. A story about my search for a disaster-proof shell is great reading, too!"

http://www.icisf.org/inew_era.htm

A Primer On Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) by George S. Everly, Jr., Ph.D., C.T.S. and Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D., C.T.S. of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

http://www.fci.org

"Dear Neighbors, With the recent events in the news, we've been thinking about our neighbors, and we wanted to share with you some materials we hope you will find helpful. Like you, all of us here at Family Communications, Inc. are grieving for those whose lives have been tragically affected."

http://www.firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html

A comprehensive list of websites to all sections of the U.S. government.

http://www.aacap.org/

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/index.htm

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Facts for Families
A list of all their fact sheets on various problems that children and adolescents face.