Dear IC Imagine Community,
While only a week has passed since experiencing the large-scale devastation caused by the flooding of Hurricane Helene, our mental health team wanted to reach out with a list of facts, tips, and resources regarding the support of our students’ emotional well-being during this challenging time.
As many of you are experiencing, natural disasters can have a strong emotional effect on people directly and indirectly affected. The scope of devastation and loss of life can be very disturbing and hard to comprehend for many, especially children. Common reactions include sadness, concern for loved ones in affected areas, anxiety over another large scale disaster, and a strong desire to help.
Adults can help children and adolescents by supporting their emotional and psychological needs, helping them understand the events factually, and providing the opportunity to process their reactions, as needed. Children look to the significant adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after an immediate threat is over. Parents and caregivers can help children and youth cope in the aftermath of a natural disaster by remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be alright. Below is a list of helpful strategies that are further explained here.
Take care of your own needs as best you can. Parenting in the best of times is difficult. In challenging times, finding space, when/if possible, to take care of yourself will serve those in your care. Lean into healthful coping strategies.
Remain calm and reassuring.
Acknowledge and normalize youth’s feelings.
Encourage youth to talk about disaster-related events. Focus on listening and observing.
Promote positive coping and problem-solving skills.
Emphasize people’s resiliency, including theirs. Highlight people’s compassion and humanity.
Strengthen children’s friendship and peer support, connect with available communities.
Do something positive with youth to help others when/if you can.
Be honest and concise. Balance statements of concern with information about available emergency preparedness and response systems.
Limit media exposure
Maintain as much continuity and normalcy as possible. Establish new routines.
We stand with you in supporting your child now and moving forward as we heal as a community. Together, we’ll ensure the resiliency of our youth and our community. For further information, please access the resources below.
Together,
IC Imagine Mental Health Team
Large Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Children Cope
Natural Disasters: Brief Tips and Facts
Helping Children After a Natural Disaster: Tips for Parents and Educators