Mental Health Resources, Updated to Include Resources on Coping with Mass Shootings

Posted by Bobbi Newman on May 26th, 2022 Posted in: Resource Sharing
Tags: coping with mass shootings, mental health resources

I received an email today asking for permission* to share last year’s blog post on mental health resources and if there were any updates related to mass shootings. With the help of colleagues in the Region 6 office and across the Network I have done my best to compile resources to help individuals and communities cope in the aftermath of mass shootings. This includes some resources related to specific recent shootings.

SAMHSA Mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

• Coping Tips for Traumatic Events and Disasters – SAMHSA Emotional distress can happen before and after a disaster. Coping strategies include preparation, self-care, and identifying support systems.
• Incidents of Mass Violence Learn about who is most at risk for emotional distress from incidents of mass violence and where to find disaster-related resources.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

• Coping With Traumatic Events A traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect someone emotionally and physical
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events Every year, children and adolescents experience disasters and other traumatic events. Family, friends, and trusted adults play an essential role in helping youth cope with these experiences.

American Psychological Association

• Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting You may be struggling to understand how a shooting rampage could take place in a community, even a workplace or military base, and why such a terrible thing would happen.
• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting – As a parent, you may be struggling with how to talk with your children about a shooting.
• Talking to kids about discrimination Experts say diversity and discrimination are subjects that need to be addressed with children.

CDC  is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health.

• Racism and Health – Racism both interpersonal and structural—negatively affects the mental and physical health of millions of people, preventing them from attaining their highest level of health, and consequently, affecting the health of our nation.

Healthychildren.org from ​The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

• Talking With Children About Tragedies & Other News Events After any disaster or crisis, families struggle with what they should say to children and what’s best not to share with them. The (AAP) encourages parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who work closely with children to filter information about the event and present it in a way that their child can understand, adjust to and cope with.
• Talking to Children About Racial Bias Given the tragic and racially-charged current events, many parents are wrestling with their own feelings, the hopes they have for their children, and the difficulty of helping those children thrive in a world full of racial bias.

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) is one of the nation’s oldest and most highly regarded, academic-based organizations dedicated to advancing trauma-informed knowledge, leadership, and methodologies.

• Robb Elementary School Shootings Response And Recovery Resources
• Buffalo Supermarket Shootings Response And Recovery Resources
• Coping With Stress Following A Mass Shooting

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network The NCTSN is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and jointly coordinated by UCLA and Duke University.

• Pause-Reset-Nourish (Prn)* To Promote Wellbeing: Use As Needed To Care For Your Wellness! This fact sheet acknowledges the levels of stress that professionals may be currently experiencing and offers a way to address unwanted symptoms and promote and replenish well-being and enhance resilience.
• School Shooting Resources
• Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after Mass Violence Offers teachers guidance on helping students after a mass violence event. This fact sheet describes common reactions students may have, how teachers and school staff can help, as well as engage in self-care after a mass violence event
• Talking To Children About Hate Crimes And Anti-Semitism Provides information on how to talk to children about hate crimes. This fact sheet outlines how to discuss the recent shooting, as well as anti-semitism with children including, how to start the conversation, how to gently correct inaccurate information, understand common reactions children may have after mass violence, how to answer questions directly, how to be a positive role model, and empowering children and teens.
• Talking To Children About The Shooting Provides information on how to talk to children about mass shootings. This tip sheet describes ways to talk to children about mass violence events that involve a shooting. It gives tips about how to start the conversation, common reactions children may have, and how to seek help if needed.
• Psychological Impact Of The Recent Shooting Provides parents and providers with information about the psychological impact of a shooting. This fact sheet describes common reactions to events like this, post-traumatic stress reactions, grief reactions, depression, physical symptoms, trauma and loss reminders, traumatic grief, post-disaster adversities, and coping after catastrophic violence.
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event – Describes how young children, school-age children, and adolescents react to traumatic events and offers suggestions on how parents and caregivers can help and support them.

Resources from Additional Sources

The Impact of Racism on the Health and Well-Being of the Nation A webinar series from the American Public Health Association

Coping In The Aftermath Of A Shooting from the American Counseling Association

Restoring A Sense Of Safety In The Aftermath Of A Mass Shooting: Tips For Parents And Professionals Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress

Talking to Children About Hate Crimes U.S. Department of Justice

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health from MedlinePlus Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life.

How to Improve Mental Health from MedlinePlus: provides health information and tips for improving your mental health.

Depression from MedlinePlus  Depression is more than just a feeling of being sad or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away.

Anxiety from MedlinePlus  Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.

SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families.

Caring for your Mental Health – National Institute on Mental Health Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others. Mental health is more than the absence of a mental illness—it’s essential to your overall health and quality of life. Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

NIH Emotional Wellness Toolkit: This NIH toolkit provides six strategies for improving your emotional health. 

NIH Social Wellness Toolkit: This NIH toolkit provides six strategies for improving your social health.

CDC COVID-19: Care for Yourself: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on caring for yourself, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC COVID-19: Coping With Stress: CDC provides information on how to cope with stress, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Get immediate help in a crisis

Call 911

Disaster Distress Helpline

• 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish)
• text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746.
• Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

• 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English,
• 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish
• Lifeline Crisis Chat 

National Domestic Violence Hotline

• 1-800-799-7233
• text LOVEIS to 22522

National Child Abuse Hotline 

• 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453)
• text 1-800-422-4453

National Sexual Assault Hotline

• 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• Online Chat 

The Eldercare Locator 

• 1-800-677-1116  TTY Instructions

Veteran’s Crisis Line

• 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Chat 
• text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

• 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• TTY 1-800-487-4889
• Treatment Services Locator Website
• Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centers 

* You do not need permission to share blog posts or other resources from the Network of the National Library of Medicine

ABOUT Bobbi Newman
Bobbi Newman (MLIS, MA) is the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist for NNLM R6 at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide for Libraries. She developed the popular NNLM course “Wellness in the Library Workplace.” Bobbi is a mindfulness student and a member of Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Let’s Move in Libraries. She divides her time between her dog, reading fantasy and nonfiction, playing video games, crafting, kayaking, biking, and gardening.

Email author View all posts by Bobbi Newman