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Support for Youth In Crisis

Child and Youth Mental Health & Substance Use Resources
Resources for Families, Care Givers, Youth and Professionals
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Children & Youth Mental Health & Substance Use: Pathways to Care Brochure

Resources for Students & their Families

24/7 HELP:

  • 911 for Emergency situations/Sechelt Hospital Emergency
  • BC Crisis Centre – Howe Sound & Sunshine Coast 1-866-661-3311
  • KidsHelpPhone (for youth under 20) 1-800-668-6868
  • Suicide Hotline 1-800-784-2433
  • BC Crisis Centre 1-866-872-0113
  • Child and Youth Mental Health Hotline 310-6789
  • Here to Help 1-800-661-2121
  • Crisis Services Canada | The Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
  • BC 211: Dial 2-1-1 for Community, Social & Government Services. bc211 provides free, confidential, multilingual access to community, government and social services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are answered by certified Information and Referral Specialists who assess each caller’s needs and refer them to appropriate services and resources within their community. Click here to access bc211’s online resource directory.
 

Youth Support:

  • youthinbc.com Online chat support (open 12 noon-1am)
  • Local/Vancouver Help:
    • Kelty Mental Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital 1-800-665-1822 (Monday-Friday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm)
    • Child and Youth Mental Health Office – Gibsons 604-886-5525, Sechelt 604-740-8900
    • Youth Outreach 604-741-1129
     

    Youth Clinics:

    • Pender Harbour Health Centre Tuesdays (3:30 pm – 5:30 pm)
    • Sechelt Public Health Unit – Wednesdays (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm)
    • Gibsons Public Health Unit – Mondays (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm)
     

Adult Support:

Support for Indigenous People

Back-to-School Wellness Toolkit

Back-to-school transition can be a stressful time for students and their parents/guardians or caregivers. The B.C. Children’s Hospital has released a back-to-school wellness toolkit to help support families. This toolkit is designed to support families with practical guidance and resources to support their child or youth as they adjust to the school routine and change in their environment.

The Ministries of Education and Public Safety & Solicitor General and Safer Schools Together’s Gangs and Guns Online Resources: a suite of videos and guides to increase awareness, knowledge and competencies related to gang and gun violence prevention for educators and school support staff, parents and students.

 

Online Grief Resources:

 

 

 

Resources:

Books:

  • Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. 
  • Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep by David K. Randall
  • The Quest for Rest with Polly & Pickles by Andrea Bell

Immunize BC: Evidence -based immunization information and tools for B.C. residents

CANImmunize: A free tool that helps you keep track of immunizations.

 

Online Safety 

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, through its program Cybertip.ca, is urging families to have conversations about internet safety and to work together to implement strategies that ensures everyone’s digital well-being.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS BE AWARE OF?

  • Your child may want to spend increased time connecting with friends by live streaming or video chatting. Talk to your child about the ease by which screengrabs and video recordings from live streams or video chats can be saved and used against tweens to embarrass or harm them, even by people they know. Be mindful that some live stream apps/platforms feature private messaging where anyone can direct message your child. To learn more about the risks of live streaming and ways to safeguard kids, visit protectkidsonline.ca/live.
  • Online gaming is another way your child may want to connect with friends and pass the time. Like live streaming, gaming platforms can open kids up to receiving chats or private messages from people they don’t know in real life. For example, Cybertip.ca released an alert regarding the popular multi-player website Roblox after receiving reports concerning requests to meet up in person, and/or sexually suggestive chat messages being sent to children under the age of 12 within the game. For more information on online gaming concerns, and what you can do, read the blog Glitching Out on ProtectKidsOnline.ca.
  • TikTok is a hugely popular app for tweens and teens, and they may want to spend more time creating and posting content. Teens may be tempted to take risks or act explicitly to get more followers or likes on a video. This can also be heightened by TikTok challenges, which are created by TikTok and the community itself. While most are just silly viral trends or marketing schemes, some can be dangerous. Read more about TikTok and how to keep tweens/teen safe while using it here: A Quick Guide to TikTok.
  • In the past two years, Cybertip.ca analysts have classified 600 reports as luring — adults communicating online with a child for a sexual purpose — through a variety of apps and services such as Facebook/Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, KIK, and online gaming platforms. Learn more about the ways in which offenders attempt to gain access to children online by visiting cybertip.ca/grooming.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

  1. Have regular conversations about online safety. This includes talking about the online games your kids are playing, the apps they’re using, and who they are chatting with. For tips on how to get the discussion started, visit protectkidsonline.ca for age-appropriate ideas.
  2. Set the expectation you will monitor your child’s online activities, and work together to establish guidelines around texting, social media, live streaming, and gaming, such as who your child can do these things with and on what apps.
  3. Become familiar with, or revisit the parental controls on computers, phones, and tablets. Some devices allow parents to limit access to specific apps, social media sites, internet content, and features available within the device.
  4. For younger children, help them create their login, password, and profile information ensuring it is set to private. For tweens and teens, know their username/character name and password, as well as the email address used to sign up for apps/games/social accounts.
  5. Help tweens/teens set up privacy settings in apps/games/social accounts. With a private account, users can approve or deny followers/friends, restrict who can view their content and profile information, and limit incoming messages to followers/friends only. Work together to decide who to accept as followers/friends.
  6. Tell your child that if they come across something or someone while chatting/messaging/texting that makes them feel uncomfortable, they can tell you without fear of getting in trouble or losing online privileges. Remind them that their safety is what is most important to you.
  7. If you see, read, or hear anything sexual from an adult towards your child online, report it to Cybertip.ca.

*Information gathered from The Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

The following links are used at workshops for students, staff, and families. Please note that these are external links, and while we find them useful, we are not responsible for the contents.

As these references are updated, this page will update accordingly.

ParticipACTION Resources to help families stay active.

Outside Play An online tool to help families fain the confidence to allow their kids to engage in more outdoor play.

North Shore Rescue  “Survive Your Own Adventure” Interactive Video | This
interactive learning experience aims to educate hikers about backcountry safety

Shift Education | Jessy Wollen, Teacher & Certified Sexual Health Educator

The Askable Adult: How to Talk to your Kids about Bodies, Babies and Boundaries | For Parents/Caregivers of Primary Aged Children | Grades K-3 | Spring 2021 Recording

The Askable Adult Intermediate Session (Grades 4-7) for Parents/Caregivers | Spring 2021 Recording

Options for Sexual Health: All about the facts, care, sex ed and impact.

Ask Us: Have a sexual health question? Ask here!

Primary Books:

  • What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg
  • Who has What? by Robie H. Harris
  • It’s Not the Stork by Robie H. Harris
  • Boys, Girls and Body Science by Meg Hickling

Intermediate / Secondary Books & Sites:

  • Amaze Site: Amaze takes the awkard out of sex ed. Real info in fun, animated videos that give you all the answers you actually want to know about sex, your body and relationships. 
  • Scarleteen Site: Inclusive, comprehensive, supportive sexuality and relationships info for teens and emerging adults.
  • Kids Health Site: Advice on children’s health, behaviour, and growth – from before birth through the teen years.
  • Wait, what? by James E. Ryan
  • S.E.X: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties by Heather Corinna
  • What Does Consent Really Mean? by Pete Wallis

Supporting Children and Youth During Natural Disaster Events is a new resource provided by the BC Ministry of Education with suggestions and links to other resources to consider in responding to the mental health and wellbeing needs of those affected by these floods and other severe weather-related events. 

Supporting Children and Youth During Natural Disaster Events:

Natural disasters include hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, tsunamis and floods, as well as extreme weather events such as blizzards, droughts, extreme heat and windstorms. These events can lead to many adversities for children and families, including displacement, loss of home and personal property, changes in schools, economic hardship, loss of community and social supports, and even the injury and death of loved ones.

Tragic or traumatic occurrences can alter a person’s sense of security. We know that children may be upset or have questions about what has taken place. The first and most important support for children and youth are their family. Below, is a list of ways that we can work together to create a safe environment for children and youth during this difficult time.

Be reassuring. Children take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Your reactions are most important. Recognize that some children may be concerned about something bad happening to themselves, family or
friends. Explain to them the safety measures in place and reassure them that you and other adults will take care of them.

Be a good listener and observer. Let children guide you to learn how concerned they are or how much information they need. If they are not focused on the tragedy, do not dwell on it. However, be available to answer their questions to the best of your ability. Young children may not be able to express themselves verbally. Pay attention to changes in their behaviour or social interactions.

Monitor the news. Images of a disaster or crisis event can become overwhelming, especially if watched repetitively. Young children may not be able to distinguish between images on television and their personal reality. Older children may choose to watch the news but be available to discuss what they see and to help put it into perspective.

Emphasize people’s resiliency. Help children understand the ability of people to come through a tragic event and go on with their lives. Focus on children’s own competencies in terms of how they previously coped in their daily life during difficult times. In age–appropriate terms, identify other critical incidents from which people, communities, or countries have recovered.

Highlight people’s compassion and humanity. Large–scale tragedies often generate a tremendous outpouring of caring and support from around the country and world. Focus on the help and hopeful thoughtsbeing offered to those affected by other people.

Maintain as much continuity and normalcy as possible. Allowing children to deal with their reactions is important but so is providing a sense of normalcy. Routine family activities, classes, after– school activities, and friends can help children feel more secure and better able to function.

Spend family time. Being with family is always important in difficult or sad times. Even if your children are not significantly impacted by this tragedy, this may be a good opportunity to participate in and to appreciate family life. Doing things together reinforces children’s sense of stability and connectedness.

Ask for help if you or your children need it. Any tragedy can feel overwhelming for families directly affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones. Staying connected to your community can be extremely helpful. It may also be important to seek additional support from a mental health professional to cope with overwhelming feelings.

Communicate with your school. Children directly impacted by the event may be under a great deal of stress that can be very disruptive to learning. Together, parents and teachers can determine what extra support or leniency students need and work with parents to develop a plan to help student.

Be aware of your own needs. Don’t ignore your own feelings of anxiety, grief, and anger. Talking to friends, family members, religious or cultural supports and mental health counselors can help. It is important to let your children know that you are sad. You will be better able to support your children if you can express your own emotions in a productive manner. Get appropriate sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

Informed by resources from:
Association of Chief Psychologists of Ontario School Board Psychological First Aid – National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Strategic Interventions – Points to Consider
1. Individuals closest to Ground Zero and others in the Impact Zone who are experiencing fear and hopelessness need to be grounded to circumstances they have control over. Instead of focusing on very broad issues (e.g. “what is
wrong with the world and how do we fix it?”), the focus should be on micro–interventions and realities such as emphasizing safety in the local area:
a. Make sure families are wrapping around overwhelmed children and youth.
b. Expect some regressive behaviour.
c. Restate school safety protocols to students and staff.
d. Monitor media and social media exposure and show an interest in what students are seeing and posting themselves.
e. Be prepared to engage in impromptu child and youth initiated conversations.
f. Model calmness.
g. Be visible. School personnel intentionally connecting with students reduces anxiety.
h. Students may be gathering more after school hours to maintain a sense of connection. Leaving the school open, for as long as possible, during this critical period will contribute to lowering anxiety.

2. Parents and caregivers may need to be reminded that a child who appears to be overreacting may in fact be so overwhelmed with personal issues that the societal anxiety has simply “pushed them over the edge”. This is an important time to have meaningful conversations about resolvable issues to bring relief. Also, prompting the child’s favorite aunt, uncle, brother, sister, grandparent, etc. to make contact can help to increase that sense that at least “we are all right!”

Additional Resources:

Anticipating that students may have a reaction to this event, we have collected some resources available for parents and educators that could be helpful in responding to children’s concerns.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN):
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//age_related_reactions_to_traumatic_events.pdf

Health Emergency Management – BC Mental Health and Wellness Recovery Toolkit: http://www.phsa.ca/health–
emergency–management–bc-site/Documents/Mental%20Health%20and%20Wellness%20Toolkit%20January%202021.pdf

BC Teachers’ Federation – Supports and resources for members affected by flooding and severe weather:
https://www.bctf.ca/whats–happening/news–details/2021/11/17/supports–and–resources–for–members–affected–by–flooding–and–severe–weather

Emergency Management BC – Staying Safe and Healthy in an Emergency:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency–management/preparedbc/make–your–plan/health–in–emergency

Canadian Mental Health Association:
https://cmha.bc.ca/documents/coping–with–natural–disaster–stress/

First Nation Health Authority – Recognizing and Resolving Trauma in Children During Disasters:
https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA–Recognizing–and–Resolving–Trauma–in–Children–During–Disasters.pdf

Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.ca/crc/documents/well–being_links_20171002_en.pdf

Flood Specific:
PrepareBC Flood Guide:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public–safety–and–emergency–services/emergency–preparedness–response–recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc–guides/preparedbc_flood_preparedness_guide_fillable.pdf

NCTSN Flood Response:
https://www.nctsn.org/what–is–child–trauma/trauma–types/disasters/flood–resources

Supporting Families and Children

Uncertainty is hard for most people, yet there are simple and practical ways to cope with even the most difficult situations.  Research shows that coping with stress builds resilience and can make us stronger.  People in our community and around the world are helping each other, working together, showing kindness, and trying to be creative in addressing the problems we are facing.

Here are some ways to help yourself and your family during this time:

  • Self-Compassion – Fear is a natural response to a pandemic such as this. Try to be kind to yourself if you are feeling more worried or anxious than usual.
  • Self-Care – It remains important to engage in healthy and relaxing activities that you enjoy. Consider a wide variety of fun, intellectually stimulating, and physically active options such as reading for professional growth or leisure, cooking, practicing yoga, exercising, meditating, and spending time in nature.
  • Connection – Stay connected with family and friends through virtual visits.
  • Routines – Keeping similar routines and developing healthy new routines helps provide predictability and a sense of safety for you and your family.

The COVID-19 pandemic may be a very stressful and frightening time for our children.  While it is important to remember that fear and anxiety about disease is normal, excessive worry is not.  There are many things we can do as parents to support our children during these extraordinary times.  When talking to our children about the current situation, a solutions-focussed approach is helpful.

Things to keep in mind when having discussions with children include:

  • Many individuals and organizations (governments, doctors, nurses, schools etc.) are helping during the current situation.
  • It will get better.
  • Life will return to normal.
  • Let’s focus on caring for our family, friends, and community.
  • Positive Focus – Try to shift the dialogue away from the negative and toward what we can be grateful for in this time.
  • Talk and Listen and Model – Take the time to talk to your child or teen about COVID-19 in an age-appropriate way. Reassure your child or teen that they are safe, and share your own strategies for coping with stress.  Model for them how to be resilient and health.

Supporting All Children and Youth

  • Routines are important and can help to create a sense of predictability and security.
    • Some examples of routines include scheduling daily academic time, outdoor activities, and family time.
  • Focus on the moment. Mindful breathing is very helpful.
  • Model calmness, routine, and a focus on family and friends.
  • It is appropriate to provide a fact-based discussion on the changing landscape of COVID-19. This discussion should be done in a calm and reassuring tone conveying the message that we are safe.  We take precautions, but we are safe.  Listen, provide age-appropriate information and focus on prevention (frequent hand-washing, social distancing etc.).
  • Focus on the positive and encourage children to do the same. Rather than feeling stuck inside, for example, see it as an opportunity to focus on family and home.

Supporting Older Students

  • Limit social media and news consumption. Create a window of time to check the news together rather than watching it all day.
  • Consult accurate information from reliable sources
  • Limit exposure to the news;
    • Watching news that repeatedly emphasizes both the rapid spread of coronavirus and lack of effective treatment makes people feel anxious and dis-empowered. Anxious thoughts include those that suggest the worst case scenario and our inability to cope with that.  This news coverage feeds that faulty thinking.
  • Moderate the amount of gaming time.
  • Eat as nutritiously as is possible. Make balanced meals you can prepare together.
  • Try to ensure older students are getting enough sleep (sleepfoundation.org).

Supporting Younger Students

  • Younger students may show their stress in different ways, for example: crying, irritation, ‘acting out,’ reduced attention and concentration, regression to an earlier are such as bed-wetting, and ceasing activities that they previously enjoyed.
  • Here are some strategies to help reduce stress in younger students:
    • More time with trusted adults
    • Increased play time, inside and out (if possible)
    • Routines
    • Quiet times to read books, listen to music, do puzzles, and play board games
    • Adequate sleep

Mental Health

  • Children, teens or adults who have mental illness or addiction should continue to seek support.
  • Many counsellors are continuing their work on the phone or online.
  • Local supports in the community are ongoing, but support may look different. (see below for phone numbers)
  • There are helplines and online tools and apps (please see below for a few ideas).
  • Have a safety plan and ensure that youth and children know they are not alone.

Phone Numbers/Crisis Resources:

Local Information:  

Mental Health Resources for Children and Youth are available during this time. Supports may look different, but they are still working to support families and children with mental health during this unprecedented time.  Please use the links below for local resources and contact information.

Sunshine Coast Youth Resources

Children and Youth Mental Health Resources for Sunshine Coast

Provincial Resources:

Apps:

Supportive Resources – websites, apps, helplines and other phone numbers

ERASE
erase = expect respect & a safe education 
ERASE is a government of British Columbia strategy with the goals of building safe and caring school communities. This includes empowering students, parents, educators and the community partners who support them to get help with challenges, report concerns to schools, and learn about complex issues facing students. 

Kelty Mental Health
If you are concerned about your child or a child you care for, the BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre has resources to support you. You will find information on key topics that parents and caregivers often have questions about. This includes some first steps you can take if you are concerned about your child, how to navigate through the different options for treatment and support in BC, information on different medications for mental health challenges and how to connect with a parent peer support worker at the Kelty Centre. Whether it’s information, tools, or a listening ear you are looking for, the Kelty Centre there to help. 

Foundry BC, BC Children’s Hospital
Foundry supports young people aged 12-24 and their families with easy access to care. Whether a young person needs support for anxiety or depression, wants to see a family doctor or is struggling with a stressful situation, we will help them get the services they need. Foundry makes it easy for young people to find youth-friendly, welcoming and appropriate services – by simply walking into their local Foundry centre, accessing Foundry’s virtual services, or by exploring the tools and resources online at foundrybc.ca. Foundry reaches young people earlier – before their health concerns have a severe impact on their health and well-being.  

FamilySmart 
FamilySmart® comes along-side young people and families to provide support, navigation assistance and information and then invites them and professionals to come-alongside each other to learn with and from each other to enhance the quality of experiences and services for child and youth mental health.  

Virtual Mental Health Supports
The BC Government has collated a comprehensive list of virtual services for British Columbians who are experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges. 

Vancouver Coastal Health
Child and Youth Mental Health 
Child and Youth Mental Health Services provide free-of-charge assessment, treatment, consultation, therapy and parent education for children and youth experiencing mental health challenges. Services are available to children and youth who live in the areas served by Vancouver Coastal Health and may include nurses, counsellors, occupational therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, rehabilitation therapists, social workers and support staff.  

Social Emotional Learning Resources 
Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) 
According to CASEL, social and emotional learning starts at home. Parents and families are critical partners in helping their children develop social and emotional know-how. They can model the kinds of skills, attitudes, and behaviors we want all students to master. And they can be important advocates for SEL at school. The following resources support your child’s social and emotional well-being. 

Building SEL Skills at Home Edutopia  
There are many ways parents can encourage emotionally intelligent behavior in their children. Check out this guide to resources for learning more about character development. 

Mindup 
MindUp at home offers resources to help parents and kids to reduce stress and anxiety and to improve their brain fitness and resilience. The MindUp at home resource provides webinars for parents to support SEL skills at home. There are also lots of wonderful kid friendly videos that teach the skills and strategies to help your child learn how the mindful brain works and teaches concepts such as gratitude, optimism, and kindness. 

Committee For Children
Everyday challenges are part of life. Providing your love and support is the most important step in helping children develop the confidence to overcome anything they face. Committee for Children has collaborated with Sesame Workshop to bridge the divide between what children learn in school and what they learn at home with their families. Sesame Street’s Little Children, Big Challenges initiative provides tips and strategies to help adults and children (ages 2 to 5) navigate challenges and build lifelong skills for resilience.

Families Staying Active

Canadian kids need active bodies to build their best brains. In order for them to reach their full mental, emotional and intellectual potential, their bodies have to move to get the wheels in their brains turning! This ParticipACTION App has great ideas for home activities content for the whole family!

Guided Meditations and Mindfulness from BC Children’s Hospital – Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

Mindfulness can be practiced in many different ways, and can be done at almost any time. Dr. Dzung Vo and Dr. Jake Locke from BC Children’s Hospital have recorded some of the mindfulness meditations that they use in the mindfulness groups they offer at BC Children’s Hospital. Feel free to download these recordings and listen to them from your computer or mobile device.

Sunshine Coast Community Task Force

The volunteer task force will try to help community members to connect with the organizations who are responding to the special needs arising from the COVID-19 crisis. The Sunshine Coast Community Task force is a team of dedicated volunteer and community organizations working together to connect the people and the resources they need during the current crisis.

Contact: Phone: 1-866-212-5025 – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Mon-Fri / Email: scctaskforce@gmail.com /Website: scctaskforce.com

The Sunshine Coast Child and Youth Medical and Mental Health Town Hall took place on May 21st. Below is the recording of the event and resources for families.

Youth Vaping During COVID-19

The McCreary Centre Society has released a research paper on youth vaping during COVID-19. In June, September, and December 2020, 28 youth researchers from across BC collected over 3,500 surveys from their peers about their experiences with vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report of the findings, Youth vaping during COVID-19: BC youth’s experiences during the pandemic is available to download here. Youth researchers created an infographic poster to share the results with parents/caregivers.

This video was created by Russell Teibert, Vancouver Whitecaps Captain and McCreary Board Member. In the video, Russell shares with youth what he’s learned through sport about life, facing adversity, and finding the people in your community who can help you succeed.

Covid-19: Coping with Anxiety in Children and Adults Webinar Recording 2020

BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre 2-part webinar series on Challenges with School Attendance where the presenters talk about anxiety and related challenges that can be a barrier to attending school, as well as practical strategies to help things go more smoothly. 

The BC Centre for Disease Control has released their report on Impact of School Closures on Learning, Child and Family Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

UBC-CMHA COVID19 Effects on Mental Health of Vulnerable Populations Report

Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Resource for COVID-19

Regulating Emotions Resources:

Resources by Vancouver Coastal Health:

How to feed school-aged children and youth?

  • Adults decide what foods to offer, and when and where to serve meals and snacks.
  • Kids decide how much to eat, and which foods to choose from what is provided.
  • Involve kids in growing, selecting and preparing foods so that they can build their food skills.

For more information see handouts: 

Additional Resources:

Articles

What to feed school-aged children and youth?

Offer children and youth a variety of foods. As they see foods over and over again, they will build their comfort with a wider range of foods. Involving them in some of the meal planning, shopping, and cooking can also increase their ability to eat well and make mealtimes more pleasant in the long run.

Supporting a healthy body image for children and youth

Questions? Clients looking for nutrition assessment and support from a registered dietitian can: Call Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1 

We would like to offer these recommendations from Safer Schools Together: 

Guidelines for parents/guardians to support children through times of grief during and after a traumatic event

  • Be yourself – Demonstrate your natural concern calmly and in your own words.
  • Be available – Spend time with your child. Attempt to distract your child by reading, walking, going to a movie, etc.
  • Listen – Let your child express his/her thoughts, concerns, feelings, and perceptions in a nonjudgmental, emotionally safe environment.
  • Explain – Talk about what you know in short, ruthful statements. Don’t be afraid to admit that you do not have all the answers.
  • Do not speculate.
  • Develop resiliency – Your child will look to you for reassurance. Do not convey your own feelings of hopelessness, but rather let your child know that they will get through this difficult period.
  • Provide comfort – Physical and verbal comforts are great healers.
  • Attend to physical manifestations of trauma – Children will often complain of headaches, stomach aches, backaches, etc. Monitor physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, anxiety, sleep disturbance, etc. and determine whether medical intervention is required.
  • Maintain regular routines – As much as possible, attempt to provide normalcy to your child. Humans are creatures of habit and derive comfort from regular routines.
  • Monitor media exposure – Do not overexpose your child to media reports (especially preschool and elementary age children).
  • Seek additional support – When appropriate, your child should be directed to community support agencies. 

Conversations about Global Issues

We recognize that global issues may contribute to a range of feelings and trauma for students, staff and families. It is important to be mindful of how these events impact each of us and those around us. During these times, we are also reminded of the importance that children have access to caring adults to help them to feel safe and make sense of the world.  

Please see below for information from Safer Schools. The following resources provide tips for staff and parents/caregivers. There are resources to share for families of both elementary and secondary school children.

How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War: Common Sense Media gathers tips and conversation starters to help you talk to kids of different ages about the toughest topics.

Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children: This article from the American Psychological Association can help adults guide their young children beyond fear and to resilience.

Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of middle school children: The American Psychological Association breaks out tips and strategies for parents and teachers of middle school-aged children.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides resources that can be filtered by topic or keyword and by audience with a focus on how adults can identify traumatic responses in young people and how to support them. 

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)’s Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting: This resource covers common reactions, things I can do for myself, and things I can do for my child. 

If you have concerns about your child’s reaction, please reach out to your child’s school staff, family doctor and/or other community supports.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) School Health Manual: Every year, VCH publishes the Vancouver school health manual to help school staff access VCH health-care services available for school-aged children and youth. Revisions to this manual are updated throughout the school year. 

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