Helping Kids in Crisis

Posted by Susan Carney Sep 26, 2007

It’s a tough time to be a teenager. Kids today are dealing with issues we never faced at their age. When I went to middle and high school in the early eighties, things like school shootings and terrorism on American soil were not yet part of our common experience. We had bullying and sexual harassment, but the incidents I remember pale in comparison to the shocking stories that have become all too commonplace today. I feel for these kids growing up with this extra burden of fear and anxiety about the dangers of the world. We should be able to make them feel safe, but sometimes we can’t even do that anymore.

Part of our frustration lies in not knowing how to respond to kids that are coping with some of these issues. Most teachers and youth workers are not trained counselors or therapists; and many feel ill-equipped to provide the emotional support these kids need. They don’t know what to say, or sometimes more importantly, what not to say. Yet they know that these kids need help.

There are many articles in the Youth Development archives to address this issue. The most recent Helping Teens Cope With Violence, talks about how youth workers can provide support to kids in the aftermath of exposure to national crises such as the recent college shootings. Other articles, such as Sexual Harassment and Teens, Bullying and Teens, and Understanding Teen Depression do the same for these issues. These pieces provide suggestions that front line staff can use to help support kids going through difficult experiences.