Tumbler Ridge shootings: How parents can help children cope

Psychologists say parents should talk with children and teens after the Tumbler Ridge school shooting and watch for changes in behaviour and mood as the community mourns.

News of a mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., has prompted national media coverage and an official day of mourning in the province. Psychologists quoted in the report say parents and caregivers are being encouraged to address the event with their children rather than avoid it. The location at a school has made the incident feel especially close for many families, and experts note that children may respond with sadness, fear or anxiety. The article compiles advice from Canadian clinicians about talking with kids and watching for mental-health signals. Key points: - A mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., has drawn widespread media attention and community mourning. - Psychologists recommend that parents acknowledge and process their own feelings first so they can speak calmly with children, and that conversations begin by asking what the child already knows. - Experts advise listening and validating children’s thoughts, using plain language, correcting misinformation, and offering factual perspective about safety without making guarantees. - Signs of possible mental distress include changes in sleep, appetite, concentration, play or social behaviour; clinicians say to monitor such changes and that ongoing difficulties after a couple of weeks may lead families to seek additional support. Summary: The coverage and the fact the event involved a school have raised concern for many families, and mental-health professionals in the article outline ways parents can talk with children and watch for signs of stress. Undetermined at this time.