In the Aftermath of the #TexasSchoolMassacre - Shine a light on Kids’ Well-Being: Tips and Tools to Support our Youth (#ElevateTheConvo Twitter Chat)

When: Wednesday, May 25, 2022

8:00PM ET/7:00PM CT

6:00PM MT/5:00PM PT

Where:?Twitter #ElevateTheConvo

What:?1-hour conversation. Just follow the #ElevateTheConvo hashtag on Twitter and join in as our panelists -- all experts in youth mental health

Feel free to join in the conversation. If you are new to participating in a Twitter Chat here is a brief??"how to" article. At the time of the chat just put the hashtag #ElevateTheConvo in the Twitter search field, then hit the "latest" tab and you will see the most recent posts. When you refresh the search tab new posts will emerge.

Who: All those interested in learning or sharing about youth mental health.

Resources

In response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde Texas, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:

• Talking to Children about the Shooting
• Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators?(En Espa?ol)
• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen?(En Espa?ol)
• Talking to Teens about Violence?(En Espa?ol)
• Tips for Talking to Students about Violence
• Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults
• For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Espa?ol)
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers?(En Espa?ol)
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Espa?ol)
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers?(En Espa?ol)
• Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• Once I Was Very Very Scared?– children’s book for young children?
• After the Injury—website for families with injured children
• Health Care Toolbox—website for pediatric health providers working with injured children
• Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing?(En Espa?ol)?(for responders)

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Psychological First Aid

The NCTSN also has?resources for responders on?Psychological First Aid?(PFA;?En Espa?ol). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events.?PFA Mobile?and the?PFA Wallet Card?(En Espa?ol)?provide a quick reminder of the core actions. The?PFA online training?course is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center.

Additional PFA resources for schools include:

• Psychological First Aid for Schools?(PFA-S)?– Field operations guide
• Providing PFA-S: For Health-Related Professionals?– handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Principals and Administrators?– handout
• Providing PFA-S: For School Support Staff?– handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Teachers?- handout

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From the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center

• Transcend?(mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
• Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
• Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
• Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
• Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
• E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
• Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals

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From the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University

• Grief Leadership: Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy
• Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding to Stressful Events
• Coping with Stress Following a Mass Shooting

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Disaster Helpline

SAMHSA has a?Disaster Distress Helpline?– call or text?1-800-985-5990?(for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.

Just like everyone else, youth's mental health is a dynamic continuum from thriving to life-threatening. A recent report of the trends in children's mental health indicates that changes in youth mental health often begin in early childhood. The most common challenges impacting our kids and teens are:

• ADHD -- about 10% of all kids aged 3-17 receive this diagnosis
• Depression -- about 20% of youth aged 12-17 have experienced a major depressive episode
• Suicidal thoughts -- among high school students almost 20% stated they felt so hopeless they seriously considered suicide.

Source: CDC (2022) Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2013–2019

In this twitter chat, our panelists will discuss the mental health challenges youth are facing, especially after a mass school shooting and evolving responses to meet those needs.

Questions

1. Given the recent #TexasSchoolMassacre in #Uvalde, what are some ways youth might be affected by recent mass shootings? How can adults talk to children about violence? How can adults support the health and wellness of children who are affected by mass shootings?
2. During COVID-19, mental health concerns in youth increased significantly. What are common signs that parents/providers might notice when a child or adolescent is struggling? What tips do you suggest for talking to youth?
3. In recent years mental health/healthcare professionals have had to adapt to meet the needs of pediatric patients.What are the lessons learned? What resources exist to support youth mental health? What else is needed?
4. A recent campaign from APHA and the CDC shed light on urgent and preventable issues of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), overdose and suicide. What are approaches stakeholders can adopt to prevent these interrelated public health challenges?
5. Share a success story from a youth’s point of view where mental health supports have made a difference. What are the lived experiences of youth, their trials and tribulations of recovery and wellbeing?