Dec. 19, 2012 -- The Department of Community Mental Health joins the nation in expressing our sadness and shock at the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT last week. Our thoughts and hearts go out to their families, friends and community, as well as to the professionals involved.
This unimaginable tragedy has left many people in our area and around the country wondering how we cope and how we explain this to our children. The Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health has received numerous requests for information. In order to assist, we have assembled a list of suggestions outlined below.
- Though many parents have expressed concern about sending their children to school, events like these are very rare and schools are generally the safest places for children during the school day. Schools provide a caring and supportive environment for children.
- Limit your child's exposure to the media.
- Find calm and relaxing activities to do at home.
- Provide an age-appropriate, clear, and straightforward explanation of the event. Generally this means presenting the information in a simple, reassuring way.
- Return to normalcy and routine to the best extent possible while maintaining flexibility.
- Let children know it's okay to feel upset or angry.
- Be a good listener and observer.
- Provide various ways for children to express emotion, either through journaling, writing letters, talking, making a collage, or music.
- Focus on resiliency as well as the compassion of others.
Dr. Grant Mitchell, commissioner of the Department of Community Mental Health, said: "There is a wide array of supports here locally in Westchester available to individuals, families and communities that may be suffering from the tragic events in Newtown. The Department of Community Mental Health can offer the services of a specially trained team to respond in these instances. Westchester's non-profit partners are also a resource to those in need of services."
For assistance please call (914) 995-5236 to access the DCMH team and for general information. This phone-line is answered Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.