In the aftermath of the tragic events at Apalachee High School, GPB has gathered resources that parents, caregivers, and teachers can use to help students process scary news. 

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. Calls and texts are answered by trained counselors ready to offer support. 

Hope Givers

Hope Givers a video series that explores important topics that youth across the country are facing, such as mental health challenges, bullying, addiction and recovery, human trafficking, suicide prevention, and more. Designed for middle and high school students, each episode includes real stories, resources, and self-care activities for students. 

Sesame Workshop Resources 

Caring grown-ups can help lessen the effects of trauma and show children they’re not alone. There are ways to help them feel safer and more secure. Resources in each collection below include videos, storybooks, articles, printables, and age-by-age strategies. 

Ways to Help Kids Navigate Scary News Stories

Kids watch us respond to events, they hear kids talking at recess, and they peek over our shoulder and see headlines, social media posts, or breaking news alerts flashing on our smartphone or tablet. And they have questions. Here suggestions for parents on what to do next.

Kindness, Empathy, and Resilience Collection

The resources in this PBS collection will help educators foster resilience in students grades 6-12, and include strategies to help teenagers cope with the stresses of everyday life, as well as specific challenges. The collection offers proactive approaches to help students forge new friendships and explore the concepts of self-care, care for others, and the responsibilities associated with being a supportive community member.

Meet the Helpers

Many children have questions and can feel uneasy when emergencies occur in their communities. The Meet the Helpers toolkit is designed to introduce “helpers” and explain the role they play in emergency situations. Included in the toolkit are videos and hands-on activities that provide educators and families with developmentally appropriate resources for young children.

Tips from Fred Rogers Institute on Talking with Children About Difficult Things in the News

During times of tragedy and difficulty in the news, we may think that children are unaware of what is happening. However, children are more aware than we know and are especially sensitive to the moods and conversations of adults around them. This resource offers some ideas and considerations for supporting children when the news in the world is difficult. 

Kate’s Club

Atlanta-based Kate's Club is a nonprofit organization that empowers children and teens, their families, and young adults facing life after the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver or someone important to them. In addition to long-term grief support, Kate’s Club offers resources and support in times of crisis:

Additional Helpful Tips from PBS KIDS

  • Do your best to keep the television off, or at least limit how much your child sees of any news event.
  • Try to keep yourself calm. Your presence can help your child feel more secure.
  • Give your child extra comfort and physical affection, like hugs or snuggling up together with a favorite book. Physical comfort goes a long way towards providing inner security. That closeness can nourish you, too.
  • Try to keep regular routines as normal as possible. Children and adults count on their familiar pattern of everyday life.
  • Plan something that you and your child enjoy doing together, like taking a walk, going on a picnic, having some quiet time, or doing something silly. It can help to know there are simple things in life that can help us feel better, in good times and in bad.
  • Even if children don't mention what they've seen or heard in the news, it can help to ask what they think has happened. If parents don't bring up the subject, children can be left with their misinterpretations. You may be really surprised at how much your child has heard from others.
  • Focus attention on the helpers, like the police, firemen, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and volunteers. It's reassuring to know there are many caring people who are doing all they can to help others in this world.
  • Let your child know if you're making a donation, going to a town meeting, writing a letter or e-mail of support, or taking some other action. It can help children to know that adults take many different active roles and that we don't give in to helplessness in times of worldwide crisis.