Dear families,
Our community is processing the heavy news of yesterday’s unimaginably tragic events in Tumbler Ridge. While we may be at a geographic distance, we are still deeply impacted by what has happened, both as individuals and as a community.
We recognize that it can be difficult to provide reassurance to our children when we ourselves are striving to make sense of such a traumatic incident. Children and youth will look to the adults in their lives to help them feel safe and make sense of what they’re hearing. Over the coming days and weeks, they may experience a range of emotions and responses as they process this information.
By acknowledging our own feelings, we model for them how to express emotions in healthy ways. We encourage you to remain attentive to any changes in your child’s behaviour that may indicate a need for additional support. If concerns arise, please reach out to your school and/or the community supports provided at the end of this letter.
Below are some strategies and resources to help guide conversations with your child, with the understanding that responses will vary depending on age, development, and connection to this tragedy.
Listen more than you speak
Listen to your child’s concerns before offering any explanations. Give them an opportunity to voice their fears and ask age-appropriate open-ended questions. These conversations will help you understand if your child is coming from a place of curiosity, concern, or fear, and will help you gain a sense of what your child may need from adults to feel safe and supported.
Acknowledge feelings
Let your child know it is normal to experience a range of emotions in response to such unsettling news. Reassure them that they are safe right now and that what they are feeling is a normal reaction to a very abnormal event.
Limit exposure to traditional and social media
Consider how you access news and how it may impact children nearby. Young children may not know how to make sense of the news they are seeing and can quickly become overwhelmed. Encourage older children to rely on reputable news sources and, where possible, limit their consumption and exposure to upsetting coverage. Please be mindful of the traumatic impact on victims by not watching, sharing, or reposting any photos or videos of the tragedy.
Provide facts
Tell the truth but do it gently. Keep conversations age-appropriate and consistent with your child’s stage of development. Children need to know their concerns and questions are being taken seriously and that they can trust their adults to be truthful with them. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t be afraid to say so.
Importance of routine
Maintaining daily routines can provide a sense of stability and security for children and adults. It can also be important to give children permission to continue to find hope in their daily world.
Encourage empathy and compassion
Remind your child there may be others in their daily lives who may be impacted by this tragedy. Talk with your child about how we need to treat others with extra compassion and empathy during times like these. Tragedies and times of sadness and grief can serve as meaningful moments to teach compassion, which can help children feel empowered as they find additional ways to be caring and kind.
Your children may need additional support in the days and weeks ahead, and we remain committed to prioritizing their mental health and well-being. Please continue to watch for any changes in your child’s behaviour, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your school or access the community resources listed below.
Resources
- Mental Health Resource List
- BC Hospice Resources
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- ERASE
- HealthlinkBC: Helping Children with Grief
- Kelty Mental Health
- Learning Through Loss
- Foundry Virtual BC – Foundry BC App
Please extend compassion to yourselves and others during this time.
Teresa Downs
Superintendent of Schools