Coping After Mass TraumaThe effects of traumas and disasters can have tremendous psychological impacts on those who are affected directly and indirectly. Affected individuals may have various stress reactions that present psychological, as well as physical, symptoms. However, there are steps that individuals can take for themselves and their families to mitigate and lessen the psychosomatic impacts felt by the community at large and those involved in the event. After an event has passed, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and NCPA recommend following these steps to begin coping with the possible devastation and stress that follows such a tragedy:
For more information on coping with mental illnesses, visit the APA’s patient/public education website: www.psychiatry.org/mental-health Information on coping after a disaster or tragedy is available at: http://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/coping-after-disaster-trauma The APA Blog includes several posts about Coping After Tragedy and Talking to Children About Disasters. More Resources:Recovery After Witnessing a Traumatic Event Helping Students After Disaster Coping with Stress Following a Mass Shooting Disaster Related Death: Managing Concerns About the Dead or Missing Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Coping with Retraumatization |