This post was originally shared on May 25th, 2022, and was updated on March 13th, 2026, following the events that took place at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
Since the start of the year, the United States and the world have witnessed a significant number of mass violence incidents. This includes the February 10th shootings in Sarasota, Florida, and British Columbia, Canada, the March 1st shooting in Cincinnati, and the escalation of violence in the Middle East, along with many others. The most recent of these events is the March 12th attack on Temple Israel. This attack occurred just a few miles from the MSP campus, which only heightens the emotions that surround every one of these tragic events.
Witnessing these acts of violence can cause feelings of anxiety, distress, and despair in children and adults. Below is a list of resources for coping with violence if you or a client are struggling, or trying to help a child process their own emotions.
Resources in Metro Detroit – We recognize that the impact of trauma created by incidents of mass violence is even more acute when the event happens close to home and your immediate community is grieving. Whether you are looking for support for yourself or a loved one, or are looking to offer support to others, we hope these resources will assist in your healing process.
- All for Oxford – A Program of Common Ground – free services and additional staff available to assist all affected
- Mental Health Support Following a Traumatic Event – Oakland County resource list
- 1-800-231-1127 – Common Grounds Crisis and Resource Hub is offering free support and information to anyone affected by the events at Temple Israel in any way.
Coping with Violence for Children – For children, a constant influx of violent news can make the world feel like a scary place, especially when these incidents occur at school. Children may express that they don’t feel safe and/or don’t want to go to school. It’s important that adults in their lives are able to balance validating their feelings while also reassuring them that it’s unlikely they’ll experience these types of events.
- Talking to Kids About Fear and Violence – Mental Health America
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parent and Teachers – National Association of School Psychologists
- School Shooting Resources – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- This toolkit features guidelines for parents, descriptions of age-related reactions, e-learning courses, and more.
- Resource Library on Guns and Violence – American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Included in this library are fact sheets, clinical resources, links to advocacy opportunities, etc.
- How to Talk with Kids About Gun Violence – Psychology Today
- Talking to Children about Hate Crimes – National Mass Violence Resource Center
- Talking to Children about Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Coping with Violence for Teens – Despite sharing many similarities with how you might guide a younger child through coping with violence, teens are capable of engaging with incidents of mass violence at a deeper level. While you should still provide reassurance to teens, you may find that they’re beginning to want to take action on their own. This may include independent consumption of media related to the events, advocacy work, and sharing their opinions on issues surrounding the incidences such as gun control.
- How to Have the Conversation – 1800Respect
- While this website focuses on all types of violence, not just gun violence, it provides great insight into how to open the door for a conversation with a teen. These insights are especially applicable, since teens may experience gun violence at the hands of a peer.
- How to Talk with Kids About Gun Violence – Psychology Today
- Section on teenagers and young adults
- Talking to Teens About Tragic Events – Center for Parent & Teen Communication
Coping with Violence for Adults – While adults may be more familiar with handling news of violent events, they are certainty not numb to the tragedy that these events bring. It’s important for adults to continue to honor their emotions and take care of their own well-being. This is key to continue believing that a solution is possible instead of simply giving up and viewing the situation as hopeless.
- Managing your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting – American Psychological Association
- Twelve Self-help Tips for Coping in the Aftermath of Mass Violence Incidents – National Mass Violence Center
- Coping with Traumatic Events – National Institute of Mental Health
- Coping Following Community Violence – Australian Psychological Society
Coping with Targeted Violence – When acts of violence take place against a group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or religion, many are left to cope not only with the act of violence itself but the trauma of the reasoning as well. Whether or not we are a part of an affected group it’s important to recognize that these acts are part of a larger issue and to work to confront prejudice when we see it. While the resources here are meant specifically to help individuals cope with target violence and hate crimes, we encourage you to check out our Anti-Racism & Equity resources as well.
- How to Recognize and Cope with Racial Trauma – Healthline
- Resilience Following Hate Crimes: Information and Tips – National Mass Violence Center
- How to Respond to Discrimination and Bias – The JED Foundation
As our community continues to processes these events we must also work to champion change. As President Stogner said in his statement about attack on Temple Israel, “Allow me to encourage each of you to make an effort, especially in the aftermath of events such as yesterday’s attack, to be reminded of our institution’s core values, and work together to build community and an environment that ‘practices what we teach.'”