
{"id":35493,"date":"2017-08-18T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2017-08-18T17:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=35493"},"modified":"2017-08-17T14:21:54","modified_gmt":"2017-08-17T21:21:54","slug":"how-to-talk-to-kids-about-tragedies-and-violence-and-other-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-tragedies-and-violence-and-other-news-0818171","title":{"rendered":"How to Talk to Kids About Tragedies and Violence, and Other News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35494\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Parents-talking-to-child-about-serious-topic-e1503003537530-300x221.jpg\" alt=\"Parents having a serious discussion with their child\" width=\"300\" height=\"221\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Parents-talking-to-child-about-serious-topic-e1503003537530-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Parents-talking-to-child-about-serious-topic-e1503003537530-800x590.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>In the wake of terror attacks and acts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/aggression-violence\">violence<\/a> around the world\u2014such as the white supremacy demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, that led a man to plough a vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman\u2014many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/parenting\">parents<\/a> may be unsure how to talk to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/child-and-adolescent-issues\">children<\/a> about the news.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/health-science\/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-disasters-terrorist-attacks-and-other-bad-news\/2017\/08\/11\/2a9b2006-7d4e-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html?utm_term=.e0dbfa13a6ed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> offers parents several tips. The discussion, the organization says, should begin by asking children what they already know. Parents should offer encouragement and reassurance, maintain a consistent routine, and shield young children from graphic images of violence. They should also monitor children for signs of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/depression\">depression<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/ptsd\">trauma<\/a>, such as sleep, behavioral issues, and changes in eating habits.<\/p>\n<p>Many want to talk with their children about race in a way that raises a child\u2019s consciousness without being frightening. Most <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@nicolelee_40363\/because-of-my-work-in-social-justice-equity-and-inclusion-my-people-believe-that-my-children-have-89271b11a90e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">experts emphasize<\/a> the need to be honest in an age-appropriate way. Parents must also explore their own feelings about race and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/racism\">racism<\/a> before attempting to educate their children. Like other challenging conversations, ignoring the issue won\u2019t make it go away. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc-7.com\/story\/36153337\/experts-share-advice-for-talking-about-race-with-kids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rather than having one<\/a> conversation, parents should begin as early as possible, have frequent discussions, and maintain open lines of communication.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/psychology-eclipse-fear-transcendence-bonding-t115109\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>The Psychology of the Eclipse: \u2018You Just Feel Connected With Everybody\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><div class=\"content-fatwidget align-right\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Submit Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\" onclick=\"ga(&#039;send&#039;, &#039;event&#039;, &#039;FAT Widget&#039;, &#039;Advanced Search&#039;, &#039;Sidebar&#039;, {nonInteraction: true});\">Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>As excitement about Monday\u2019s solar eclipse increases, some mental health experts say the eclipse can foster a connection. Experiencing something out of the ordinary can break down the usual barriers to connection, fostering a sense of unity and closeness\u2014even with strangers.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/why-some-companies-want-you-to-take-a-mental-health-day-1502789400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Some Companies Want You to Take a Mental Health Day<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>A mental health day can be as important for good health and job satisfaction as sick leave. Yet, many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/workplace-issues\">workers<\/a> are reluctant to tell their managers they need one. Some companies now encourage employees to take mental health days, citing increases in productivity and job satisfaction among employees with good mental health.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/fortune.com\/2017\/08\/16\/bad-job-worse-than-unemployment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>What\u2019s Worse Than Being Unemployed? A Bad Job, Say Researchers<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Many workers think long-term unemployment is the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">stressful<\/a> job experience they can have. According to new research, however, staying in a bad job might be worse. Researchers followed people who were unemployed during 2009 and 2010. Those who took \u201cpoor quality work\u201d had higher stress levels than those who remained jobless.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/pay-benefits\/2017\/08\/16\/rand-study-recommends-improvements-to-mental-health-care-for-service-members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Rand Study Recommends Improvements to Mental Health Care for Service Members<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>A new Rand Corporation study suggests lack of access to quality mental health care remains an issue for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/veterans-mental-health-issues\">current and former soldiers<\/a>. The study, which surveyed 520 providers, found less than half were able to see people with depression or posttraumatic stress (PTSD) weekly. Instead, they saw these people biweekly or less. This suggests soldiers may not get the consistent care they need to see improvements in mental health.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/science\/archive\/2017\/08\/the-worlds-worst-support-group\/536850\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>How White Supremacists Use Victimhood to Recruit<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Research on white supremacist groups suggest their members see themselves\u2014not the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/multicultural-concerns\">minority groups<\/a> they target\u2014as the real <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/helplessness\">victims<\/a>. They believe white people are the real targets for systemic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/oppression\">oppression<\/a>. In other words, they are prevented from expressing their \u201cwhite pride,\u201d their victimization erodes self-esteem, and the ongoing victimization of white groups is part of a plan to eliminate the white \u201crace.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/magazines\/panache\/now-manage-your-mental-health-and-chronic-conditions-with-an-app\/articleshow\/60084663.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Now, Manage Your Mental Health and Chronic Conditions With an App<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>A new smartphone app promises to help middle-age and older adults manage their physical and mental health. The app, which is designed to meet the average technical abilities of older adults, involves three months of training in 10 sessions. The sessions cover health topics such as stress, medication and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/drug-and-substance-abuse\">substance abuse<\/a>, and the role of mental health in physical health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In response to increasing acts of terror and violence, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers parents tips on how to talk to their children about bad news.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2555,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[542,159],"tags":[425,21,378,582,436,51,645,239,424],"class_list":["post-35493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-articles","category-therapy-news","tag-aggression-violence","tag-child-and-adolescent-issues","tag-helplessness-victimhood","tag-veterans-issues","tag-multicultural-concerns","tag-healthy-parenting","tag-racism","tag-stress","tag-workplace-issues"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2555"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35493\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}