Responding to a Violent or Traumatic Event
Aftermath of Tragic Events: The Development and Use of Community Support Meetings on a University Campus
Journal of American College Health, 54 (6):382-4 (2006)
[Note: May require subscription]
Meilman, Philip W.; Hall, Tanni M.
Colleges and universities need to be prepared to address the psychological impact of tragedies on their campuses. In this article, the author describes the development and successful implementation of campus postvention services in the aftermath of college student deaths by suicide as well as by natural and accidental causes. The program has been well received and has gone a long way toward helping the campus community come together and heal after these types of tragedies. College officials adapted the program to address issues related to troubling national and international events as well local incidents, such as suicide attempts and students' loss of housing through fires. The author provides specific instructions so that readers can replicate the program on their own campuses, and additional materials are available upon request.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP site lists resources and tips for parents, teachers, students, schools, and pediatricians that address how to cope in the aftermath of a tragedy and other topics such as violence prevention, school safety, and mental health promotion.
Campus Response to a Student Gunman
Journal of Higher Education, 66 (5): 575-96 (Sep-Oct 1995.)
[Note: May require subscription]
Asmussen, Kelly J.; Creswell, John W.
A qualitative case analysis describes campus reaction to an incident in which a student attempted to fire a gun at his classmates. Data were collected through interviews with informants, observations, documents, and audiovisual materials. From the case emerged themes of denial, fear, concern for safety, long-term psychological effects, and need for organizational preparedness.
CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response Site
This site provides multiple resources
on “Coping
with a Disaster or Traumatic Event.”
Specific resources include:
Common Psychological and Emotional Reactions Following a Crisis or Trauma
Arizona State University Counseling and Consultation
Basic, user-friendly information describing common reactions to trauma and what steps can help the recovery process.
Disaster Psychiatry Handbook
American Psychiatric Association. Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster.
While not campus-specific, the following chapter may be especially helpful to campuses responding to a tragedy: “Guidance for Parents and Other Caretakers after Disasters or Terrorist Attacks” (p. 44), which includes “Ten Points to Guide Parents and Caretakers in Disasters and Terrorism” (p. 53-54).
Following a Campus Crisis (Suggestions for faculty)
Texas State University Counseling Center
This page provides guidance for faculty about facilitating discussion and processing in the classroom following a campus tragedy.
Guidelines for Helping College Students in the Aftermath of the Shooting at Virginia Tech (.pdf file requiring Adobe Acrobat)
Crisis Management Institute
This two-page document recommends steps parents and campuses can take to help students cope.
How Another University Coped (April 17. 2007)
This article describes Syracuse University’s response following the loss of a large number of students in a plane crash in 1988 and the implications for campuses responding to the Virginia Tech tragedy.
Postvention Standards Manual: A Guide for a School's Response in the Aftermath of Sudden Death
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh's Medical Center
While not campus-specific, this resource may be useful to campus personnel. This manual describes school-based postvention standards and procedures including informing and caring for students and faculty, communicating with the media, and considerations for holding memorials and other events at school. This manual also provides some concrete sample materials including a postvention implementation checklist, potential guidelines for student support meetings, and a sample screening protocol to identify students potentially at risk. This item can be ordered from U Pittsburgh for $10 at: http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/research/star/Manual%20Order%20Form.htm
Northern Illinois University Shooting: Free Downloadable Resources
PaperClip Communications
Resources include Talking With Students About Campus Violence, Processing & Reflection Questions to Use with Students, 12 Ways to Come Together as a Community, Am I Safe on Campus?, Is My Child Safe on Campus?, Coping with the Aftermath of a Campus Tragedy, Keeping Yourself and Your Classrooms Safe: A Faculty Resource (brochure) and others.
School-Wide Management in the Aftermath of Trauma (.pdf file requiring Adobe Acrobat)
Crisis Management Institute
This is a one-page list of suggestions for helping students to deal with trauma.
Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention & Postvention Guidelines: A Resource for School Personnel (.pdf file requiring Adobe Acrobat)
Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program
While developed to assist schools in preventing and responding to suicides, Section V of this guide provides generally applicable postvention guidelines and the appendices include potentially useful sample materials.
Last Update: February 25, 2008