Resources for Educators and Students

DBHDD is dedicated to supporting youth and offering comprehensive resources, including articles, workshops, and expert guidance, designed to foster resilience and promote mental well-being. Together, we can create a safer, more supportive environment for our children and communities.

Students/Youth

These resources are for school-aged children and teens. The various toolkits, website activities, and articles can help youth understand how community violence may affect them and how to identify coping strategies. Also included are a crisis text line and other information about when and how to seek help.

Parents/Caregivers

The following resources are for the parents and caregivers of students who have been exposed to mass violence. Included are articles to help identify symptoms of stress your child may be exhibiting, tips on how to talk to your child about community violence, hotlines and other available services, and campaigns by local organizations that can assist the whole family in navigating these events.

Educators/School Professionals

The following resources are for school staff and administration. Included are recommendations for safety practices and responses to school violence, school staff mental health and wellness initiatives, trainings and toolkits for how to engage with students in the wake of a violent event, and information on available professional services.

Psychological First Aid Resources

In the aftermath of a traumatic event, people have common stress reactions. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster. It is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping. 

PFA benefits anyone who has survived or witnessed a traumatic event, including people of any age and gender.  By reducing immediate stress individuals may have a better ability to cope long-term.