Mass violence events are human-caused tragedies that can impact whole communities. These types of events include shootings, acts of terrorism, or mass riots. These violent acts typically target defenseless citizens with the intent to harm or kill. Survivors may have feelings of confusion, fear, and helplessness. Sometimes, those with no personal connections to the event may even be impacted. It's normal for people to experience emotional distress after an event like this. Some may experience anxiety, trouble sleeping, and other depression-like symptoms in response to incidents of mass violence.
An event such as this is unexpected and often brings out strong emotions. People can call or text the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline’s toll-free number (1–800–985–5990) and receive immediate counseling. This free, confidential, multilingual crisis support service is available to anyone experiencing distress as a result of a disaster. People who call and text are connected to trained, caring professionals from crisis counseling centers in the network. Helpline staff provide confidential counseling, referrals, and other needed support services.
The Department of Mental Health created a series of trauma informed care courses which include topics on trauma informed care, trauma informed care for teens, and trauma informed care for helping professionals.
When you click the link below to sign up you will find a message about the recent mass violence incident that can be watched prior to taking the courses.
- Find Help in St. Louis
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Amanda Luckett Murphy (ALM) Hopewell
866-376-0962
Walk In Centers
Children's Services:
5647 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63112
Open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Adult Services:
909 N 14th Street
St. Louis, MO 63106
Open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Trauma Services:
4236 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
Open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Peak Response Trauma Program
This unique program is setting a milestone as the only program of its kind, serving the city of St. Louis! This program is specifically designed to decrease the negative effects of trauma on communities. It offers support to children, families, and communities in the STL city area, who are impacted by TRAUMA.
Peak Response Trauma Program Flyer
Peak Response Trauma Program Brochure
Drop In Center for Information
BJC Behavioral Health
314-747-7491
Walk In Centers
Downtown Walk-In Clinic
1430 Olive Street, Suite 400 (4th floor)
St. Louis, MO 63103
Open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
North Walk-In Clinic
1150 Graham Road, Suite 106
St. Louis, MO 63031
Open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Behavioral Health Response (BHR)
Youth Connection Helpline:
844-985-8282 or text BHEARD to 31658
Adult Crisis Helpline:
314-469-6644
Places for People
314-535-5600
Walk In Center
1001 Lynch Street
St Louis, MO 63118
- General Response and Recovery
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National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center
The NMVVRC serves as the source for best evidence to achieve a social understanding of mass violence upon which civic leaders, mental health professionals, journalists, policy makers, and victim service professionals can rely. The vision is to provide communities access to evidence-based information and resources needed to effectively prepare for and respond to mass violence incidents.
The Impact of Disaster and Mass Violence Events on Mental Health
Intended for mental health and substance use disorder treatment professionals, this online article from the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) summarizes research on common reactions to disasters. The article identifies common reactions in disaster-affected communities and describes how reactions increase and decrease in communities over time, as well as highlighting risk factors for longer term reactions.
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
In this tip sheet, SAMHSA defines and describes grief, discusses ways of coping with grief, and explains complicated or traumatic grief. The tip sheet also offers relevant resources for additional support.
- Children, Youth, Parents, and Other Caregivers
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Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
In this information and tip sheet, the NCTSN provides an overview of how children and adolescents may react to a traumatic event, including a natural or human-caused disaster that they experience as traumatic. This resource describes reactions typical within specific age ranges and offers tips for families, doctors, and school personnel to help children and adolescents cope.
Coping after Mass Violence
Written for parents and families, this National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) tip sheet provides information about common reactions to mass violence and self-care tips for those living in communities where an incident of mass violence has taken place. The tip sheet also includes external resources for individuals seeking further support.
Coping Facts for Children
When there is major interruption in the natural flow of life, children can experience anxiety and fear. Disasters are dramatic and intense experiences, especially unsettling to children. Distress reactions are normal following a disaster. During and after disasters adults can help children cope by understanding what children feel, how they act, and what actions can be taken to deal with distress.
Once I Was Very Very Scared
This book for young children introduces several animal characters (e.g., squirrel, turtle, dog) who have gone through traumatic experiences, including disaster trauma, and are experiencing different reactions. It can be used by parents and other important adults in the lives of children to talk about difficult and traumatic experiences and support children in coping. The book is available in several languages other than English.
In this 3-page tip sheet released shortly after a shooting, the NCTSN describes how such an event may affect children and teens as well as parents and other caregivers. The tip sheet lists reactions common among people of all ages, offers coping tips for caregivers, and suggests ways for caregivers to support children and youth in talking about and managing their reactions. This resource is also available in Spanish. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish.
PFA: Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children after Disasters
This handout lists reactions children may have to disasters, ways parents can respond helpfully to these reactions, and examples of things parents can do and say to support their school-age children after a disaster. The handout is part of the PFA Field Operations Guide. This handout is also available in Spanish.
Talking to Children about the Shooting
In this tip sheet, the NCTSN provides suggestions to parents and other caregivers for talking with their children in ways that help them to make sense of and cope with their reactions to a shooting. The tip sheet also identifies reactions common in children and teens to shooting incidents.
Talking to Children about Terrorist Attacks and School and Community Shootings in the News
This guide offers advice on how to talk to children about tragic events, such as shootings and terrorist attacks, that they are likely to hear about at school and/or on the news.
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
This SAMHSA tip sheet can help parents, other caregivers, and teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by a disaster. The tip sheet describes reactions that are common in young survivors at different ages, as well as how to help children cope with these reactions.
Understanding Child Trauma
This web page from SAMHSA presents statistics on child trauma, which may be experienced as part of a natural or human-caused disaster, and lists signs of traumatic stress in children and youth. It also offers tips for parents and other caregivers for helping children and youth to cope with trauma. Links are also provided to downloadable infographics in English and Spanish provided by the SAMHSA National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative.
- School Violence
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The National Association of School Psychologists put together an extensive list of resources for school violence. This list was developed to help educators and administrators support students and families cope with bullying and school violence.
Coalition to Support Grieving Students
This is a unique collaboration of the leading professional organizations representing teachers, principals, assistant principals, superintendents, school board members, central office staff, student support personnel, and other school professionals who have come together with a common conviction: grieving students need the support and care of the school community.
National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB)
NCSCB is located at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and is dedicated to supporting students through crisis and loss. They have assisted hundreds of schools and communities in the U.S. and abroad cope in the aftermath of tragedy, playing a vital role in helping to foster resilience after crisis events. They provide crisis response, education, training, advocacy, and research.
Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, this guide defines PFA-S, a model school communities can use to support students, their families, and staff immediately after a natural or human-caused disaster. Appendix C of the guide includes handouts for responders, parents and families, and students after a disaster.
Recovery From Large-Scale Crises: Guidelines for Crisis Teams and Administrators
In this tip sheet, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) describes what to expect in schools after disasters and other crises and how school crisis teams and administrators can support the school community in coping and recovery. NASP identifies steps administrators and crisis teams can take at different points after the crisis, from immediately after the crisis to more than a year later.
Resources for Helping Youth Cope after a Mass Shooting
In response to recent mass shootings, the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) has compiled a list of resources to help youth, families, educators, and community members cope with and talk about community trauma, as well as provide psychological first aid.
- Media Coverage
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Coping with Media Coverage of Disasters
Disasters can be chaotic, confusing and frightening events, both for those who experience them directly and for those who learn about them through the media. Learn strategies and coping skills for children, teens, and adults.
Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
In this tip sheet, the NCTSN explains the effects that media coverage of a violent incident may have on children and teens and suggests ways for parents and other caregivers to help children and teens manage reactions to media coverage and the violent event. The tip sheet also includes tips for families with involvement in a violent incident.
