If your distress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks seek support from a mental health professional (see list below). Signs to look out for include:

• Overwhelming feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear that don’t go away in a few days.
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Anger or short-temper.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

For kids (in addition to those listed above)

• Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.
• Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
• Excessive worry or sadness.
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
• Difficulty with attention and concentration.

For concerns regarding a student’s social and emotional wellbeing:

• Notify your principal (all schools) and your school counselor (middle and high schools).
• The counselor or a district mental health professional will assess necessary levels of support - i.e. whether crisis intervention is necessary, a "warm handoff" to a community mental health professional, or if they will provide some "virtual counseling" (following American School Counselor Association guidelines).