The events of the Portapique mass shooting have created a collective trauma for the province, and dealing with that trauma is no easy task.
Processing the tragedy is somewhat easier for adults, who have some understanding of what took place, but children may have a particularly hard time dealing with it.
Just how we can help kids understand and cope with tragic events has come under question.
Dr. Alexa Bagnell, Chief of Psychiatry, IWK, said it’s important to start by finding out what your children already know about events so that you can answer any questions they might have in an age-appropriate way without traumatizing them.
“Just the information they would need at their age and no more than that,” she said.
“Be honest in your answers because kids get a lot of information from friends and social media so helping them understand that and creating an open dialogue will help them deal with it.”
Helping kids understand what is real and what isn’t is important, and sharing how you cope with any feelings you may have can in turn help them deal with their feelings and express them in healthy ways.
She says signs someone may not be coping well with stress or trauma may present themselves to others, and can include trouble sleeping, irritability, trouble concentrating, losing track of time, changes in appetite and even physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches.
While these symptoms can affect anyone, children are more likely to exhibit their stress through behaviour changes or acting out.
“We have to be understanding of where that is coming from and understand that it is a normal reaction. Being able to talk about it with our children is how we can help them get through this,” said Bagnell.
The South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE) has also set up additional supports for students and families who need help. Supports were already in place for families during the pandemic when they recognized the potential impact on families and the community said Paul Ash, Regional Executive Director for the SSRCE.
These supports were expanded on after the shootings.
“We implemented our critical incident team who put a plan in place on top of existing COVID-19 supports. They will be working with our school administration and guidance counsellors to respond to families requests for additional services and supports,” he said.
Ash added that having conversations with children during times of stress is very important. He encourages parents to visit the SSRCE website where they can access help through the Parent Navigator or by calling Principals who will redirect them to appropriate supports.
