Mental Health

Mental Health for Children Resources

American Psychological Association
This site addresses when to seek professional help, how to help one’s family and self, and how to specifically assist children after traumatic events.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Helping Youth Cope with Disaster
This tip sheet provides information to parents so they can help their children better cope in a disaster.  Because it is difficult to predict how children will react with disasters, this tip sheet outlines changes in emotions and behaviors that parents should be on the alert for, and identifies strategies that parents can use to assist their children.

Children’s National Health System
Mental Health Resources
This program has developed a number of resources for parents, teachers and healthcare providers to assist and support children during and after traumatic events. Resources in multiple languages are available.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Helping Children Cope with Disaster
This document offers parents, caregivers and other providers information on how to prepare before a disaster occurs and how to help children cope following a disaster.

Helping Children Cope with Grief
Children grieve when someone they love dies, even when they are too young to express their feelings. Caring adults can help children through the grieving process. This resource outlines tips for talking to children about death and provides guidelines concerning children and grief.

National Association of School Psychologists
This resource provides parents and school personnel tips on how to talk with children about acts of violence.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
This website provides access to resources to assist children and families with coping after disasters. Resources, checklists, and toolkits are available for responding to natural disasters and terrorism/mass violence.

National EMSC
After the Emergency Is Over: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Youth
This fact sheet is available to download from this site, and is a valuable resource in identifying children at risk for PTSD and the need for further mental health assistance and referral.

National Institute of Mental Health
This organization offers information on helping children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters.