The long-term mental-health needs of young shooting survivors

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The unique mental health needs of school shooting survivors By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent The third school shooting of the year in the U.S.—this time in an elementary school—exposes the uncomfortable reality that we’re creating a generation of young survivors. The trauma these children experience, and the challenges they face in processing such horror, requires specialized mental health support, experts say. I spoke to psychologists who worked with students from the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 about the strategies they use to help the youngest children cope with senseless violence. Here are a few of the most poignant takeaways: Young children may not be able to adequately process an emotionally traumatic experience, so they might complain of physical symptoms like stomach aches and headaches, or develop clingy attachments to loved ones instead. Drawing and play can help children express their reactions to their experience. Researchers still don’t know what lasting impact exposure to school violence could have on children’s development, and how it will affect their sense of safety and trust. READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read An Oura Ring Could Detect COVID-19 Days Before Symptoms Appear By Alice Park In the latest study from the makers of Oura, researchers found that the ring picked up COVID-19-related changes in the body days before symptoms appeared. Read More » Over-The-Counter Narcan is a Great First Step, But There’s Still Work to Be Done By Tara Law Prescriptionless Narcan could mean that more people have it on hand during an overdose, but there are still barriers to access. Read More » The 5 Best Ways to Control High Cholesterol, According to People With the Condition By Elizabeth Millard Here's what people with high cholesterol have found works best for them. Read More » What It's Like to Be 'Mind Blind' By Nayantara Dutta Aphantasia, or mind blindness, refers to an inability to visualize imagery. Read More » Are Onions and Garlic Healthy? Here’s What Experts Say By Jamie Ducharme They don't just add flavor. (Originally published in 2019.) Read More »

AN EXPERT VOICE "Stress is put in this medical basket, and yet stress is an absolutely normal human response. We all have a stress response—and thank god we have a stress response, because when there’s a threat out there or a big challenge, we need to be able to act and think and do things in response to that." —Christina Maslach, professor of psychology (emerita) at the University of California, Berkeley

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