by 4rbhYouthTreatment | Jan 24, 2018 | Blog
Immediately following a tragedy like the one at Marshall County High School, the attention is on taking care of the physical needs of those injured. Following that, however, is the need to address the emotional impact of such a trauma. This is not only true for those directly involved in the incident but also true for those in the community. A tragedy such as this affects everyone, especially in smaller, close-knit communities like Benton and Marshall County.
Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Crisis Intervention Team will be in Marshall County all day and for as long as is needed. Our team will be working closely with school officials, medical personnel and law enforcement over the coming days to ensure that those directly affected by yesterday’s events receive the care they need. Clinicians are ready to see those needing help at 1531 US 641 in Benton. This location has been set up by Marshall County High School and includes Four Rivers Behavioral Health clinicians as well as those from the faith-based community.
Terry Hudspeth, CEO of Four Rivers Behavioral Health said, “It is tragedies like this that we train for and know what to do – but are still shocked when it happens. Obviously, this is something you can never truly be ready for. That being said, I am so proud of our Crisis Intervention Team. This group of dedicated clinicians were there almost immediately and continue to be involved to help students and the community as a whole deal with their pain.”
Four Rivers Behavioral Health is a private, not-for-profit agency that for more than 50 years has provided comprehensive mental health, substance abuse and developmental/intellectual disability services to clients in Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, McCracken, and Marshall Counties.
For more information about crisis services, contact Four Rivers Behavioral Health at 270.442.7121 or visit the company’s website at www.4RBH.org. Further, Four Rivers Behavioral Health maintains a 24-hour crisis line at 800.592.3980. In addition to our crisis intervention teams, we offer outpatient therapy for both youth and adults. Specifically, we have a team of clinicians specially trained to address crisis and trauma in youth, including the only Board Certified Child Psychiatrist in the region.
https://4rbhyouthtreatment.com/the-zone/
by 4rbhYouthTreatment | Jan 23, 2018 | Blog
A school shooting is a terrible and traumatic event for parents, students, and the community as a whole. The violence that strikes the community after such an event stuns the nation and is a grim reminder that violent acts can strike in the most unexpected places and can endanger even the youngest lives. The resources collected in this newsletter are specifically focused on helping younger members of your family cope with what has happened. From recommendations for how to address very serious topics with children to providing support for a child affected by violence or upset by the images broadcast over the television, these articles help to create a foundation for care and recovery.
Talking to Your Children About the Recent Spate of School Shootings
Few events hit home for children and families like a school shooting. When children see such an event on television or on Web-based news flashes, it is natural for them to worry about their own school and their own safety, particularly if the violence occurred nearby or in a neighbouring city or state.
Talk to your children
Psychologists who work in the area of trauma and recovery advise parents to use the troubling news of school shootings as an opportunity to talk and listen to their children. It is important, say these psychologists, to be honest. Parents should acknowledge to children that bad things do happen, but also reassure them with the information that many people are working to keep them safe, including their parents, teachers, and local police. Young children may communicate their fears through play or drawings. Elementary school children will use a combination of play and talking to express themselves. Adolescents are more likely to have the skills to communicate their feelings and fears verbally. Adults should be attentive to children’s concerns, but also try to help children put their fears into proportion to the real risk. Again, it is important to reassure children that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to make their environment—school, home, and neighborhood—safe for them. Parents, teachers, and school administrators also need to communicate with one another not only about how to keep kids safe but about which children might need more reassurance and the best way to give it to them.
Limit exposure to news coverage
Parents should also monitor how much exposure a child has to news reports of traumatic events, including these recent school shootings. Research has shown that some young children believe that the events are reoccurring each time they see a television replay of the news footage.
Know the warning signs
Most children are quite resilient and will return to their normal activities and personality relatively quickly, but parents should be alert to any signs of anxiety that might suggest that a child or teenager might need more assistance. Such indicators could be a change in the child’s school performance, changes in relationships with peers and teachers, excessive worry, school refusal, sleeplessness, nightmares, headaches or stomachaches, or loss of interest in activities that the child used to enjoy. Also, remember that every child will respond to trauma differently. Some will have no ill effects; others may suffer an immediate and acute effect. Still, others may not show signs of stress until sometime after the event.
For more information, go to the APA Help Center. American Psychological Association
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 rampage. It is important to remember that children look to their parents to make them feel safe. This is true no matter what age your children are, be they toddlers, adolescents, or even young adults.
Consider the following tips for helping your children manage their distress.
Talk with your child. Talking to your children about their worries and concerns is the first step to help them feel safe and begin to cope with the events occurring around them. What you talk about and how you say it does depend on their age, but all children need to be able to know you are there listening to them.
• Find times when they are most likely to talk: such as when riding in the car, before dinner, or at bedtime.
• Start the conversation; let them know you are interested in them and how they are coping with the information they are getting.
• Listen to their thoughts and point of view; don’t interrupt–allow them to express their ideas and understanding before you respond.
• Express your own opinions and ideas without putting down theirs; acknowledge that it is okay to disagree.
• Remind them you are there for them to provide safety, comfort, and support. Give them a hug.
Keep home a safe place. Children, regardless of age, often find a home to be a safe haven when the world around them becomes overwhelming. During times of crisis, it is important to remember that your children may come home seeking the safe feeling they have been there. Help make it a place where your children find the solitude or comfort they need. Plan a night where everyone participates in a favorite family activity.
Watch for signs of stress, fear, or anxiety. After a traumatic event, it is typical for children (and adults) to experience a wide range of emotions, including fearfulness, shock, anger, grief, and anxiety. Your children’s behaviors may change because of their response to the event. They may experience trouble sleeping, difficulty with concentrating on school work, or changes in appetite. This is normal for everyone and should begin to disappear in a few months. Encourage your children to put their feelings into words by talking about them or journaling. Some children may find it helpful to express their feelings through art.
Take “news breaks.” Your children may want to keep informed by gathering information about the event from the internet, television, or newspapers. It is important to limit the amount of time spent watching the news because constant exposure may actually heighten their anxiety and fears. Also, scheduling some breaks for yourself is important; allow yourself time to engage in activities you enjoy.
Take care of yourself. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your children. Be a model for your children on how to manage traumatic events. Keep regular schedules for activities such as family meals and exercise to help restore a sense of security and normalcy. These tips and strategies can help you guide your children through the current crisis. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you may want to consider talking to someone who could help. A licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist can assist you in developing an appropriate strategy for moving forward. It is important to get professional help if you feel like you are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living.
Thanks to psychologists Ronald S. Palomares, PhD, and Lynn F. Bufka, PhD. who assisted us with this article. Updated April 2011.
American Psychological Association
Tips for Talking to Children in Trauma
Children are just as affected as adults are by a disaster or traumatic event. Some may be affected even more, but no one realizes it. Without intending to, we, as parents, may send our children a message that it is not all right to talk about the experience. This may cause confusion, self-doubt, and feelings of helplessness for a child. Children need to hear that it is normal to feel frightened during and after a disaster or traumatic event. When you acknowledge and normalize these feelings for your children, it will help them cope with their experience and move on.
Following exposure to a disaster or traumatic event, children are likely to show signs of stress. Signs include sadness and anxiety, outbursts and tantrums, aggressive behavior, a return to earlier behavior that was outgrown, stomachaches and headaches, and an ongoing desire to stay home from school or away from friends. These reactions are normal and usually do not last long. Whether your child is a preschooler, adolescent or somewhere in between, you can help your child by following the suggestions below.
Preschooler
• Stick to regular family routines.
• Make an extra effort to provide comfort and reassurance.
• Avoid unnecessary separations.
• Permit a child to sleep in the parents’ room temporarily.
• Encourage expression of feelings and emotions through play, drawing, puppet shows, and storytelling.
• Limit media exposure.
• Develop a safety plan for future incidents.
Elementary-Age Children
• Provide extra attention and consideration.
• Set gentle but firm limits for acting out behavior.
• Listen to a child’s repeated telling of his/her traumatic experience.
• Encourage expression of thoughts and feelings through conversation and play.
• Provide home chores and rehabilitation activities that are structured, but not too demanding.
• Rehearse safety measures for future incidents.
• Point out kind deeds and the ways in which people helped each other during the disaster or traumatic event. Preadolescents and Adolescents
• Provide extra attention and consideration.
• Be there to listen to your children, but don’t force them to talk about feelings and emotions.
• Encourage discussion of trauma experiences among peers.
• Promote involvement with community recovery work.
• Urge participation in physical activities.
• Encourage resumption of regular social and recreational activities.
• Rehearse family safety measures for future incidents.
It is important to remember that you do not have to “fix” how your child feels. Instead, focus on helping your child understand and deal with his or her experiences. Healing is an evolving state for most children, but some may need professional help. If signs of stress do not subside after a few weeks, or if they get worse, consider consulting a mental health professional who has special training in working with children. In time, and with help, your children will a return to health.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ©2012
https://4rbhyouthtreatment.com/the-zone/
by 4rbhYouthTreatment | Jan 12, 2018 | Blog
Every January the National Institute for Drug Abuse has a week that they hope will raise awareness and educate people about what are myths and what are facts about drug use. I often think back to my days in high school and how I wanted to fit-in. I often thought that everybody was drinking alcohol. So, I thought it was vital that I drink also. But there were some things I didn’t know about alcohol. It could cause me to be depressed, I might do things I shouldn’t, my brain was still developing and it could affect that development and it was addictive. So let me give you a fact. The Prevention Branch of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities sponsors a bi-annual survey that asks youth about their drinking, in addition to other questions. It tells us that 77% of 10th graders in the Purchase Region are not current drinkers of alcohol. That is not even close to “everyone”. In fact, that means less than 1 in every 4 kids is drinking. And 86% do not use marijuana, 92% do not use prescription drugs and 87% do not smoke cigarettes. So remember, not everyone is doing it. In fact, the majority of youth do not use substances. Always remember, you have a choice. Isn’t your brain and future worth it?
Ellen Walsh Program Director Prevention
