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OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (November 28, 2022) – Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is releasing suggestions for families and individuals to administer stress or trauma related to remembrance dates related to a neighborhood crisis, corresponding to the shooting incident in Oxford, Michigan.

Mental Health Support for Families and Individuals:
Contact the Oakland County 24-Hour Crisis Helpline 800-231-1127 or the Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) 844-446-4225 (call or text). OCHN’s school mental health navigators connect youth and families to behavioral health and substance use supports. For more information call 248-462-6294 or email schoolnavigator@oaklandchn.org

Suggestions for Parents:

• Acknowledge the remembrance date. In case your child is talking or asking in regards to the event, it will be significant for the caregivers / family members of their life to acknowledge what happened, provide age-appropriate information, and be supportive. It is crucial for youngsters to know they’re loved and feel secure.
• Parents should want to approach older children who could have seen news or videos on social media highlighting the remembrance date and help them process their thoughts and feelings.
• Recognize the effect this has in your child. Seek advice from your child about their thoughts and emotions because it pertains to the event and validate their feelings and concerns. With mass shootings – particularly in public places corresponding to schools and places of worship – it is a valid concern for them, and all adults must take their viewpoint and concerns into consideration.
• Help your child to feel secure. A way of normalcy and routine throughout the remembrance date helps to keep up a toddler’s sense of safety and structure. Discuss any positive features in regards to the response to the tragedy, such how community members and residents across the country come together to support one another.

Suggestions for Adults:

• Everyone experiences events and trauma in other ways, and nonetheless they think or feel throughout the remembrance time is okay. Some people have a way of fear, anger, sadness, or other emotions. Encourage people to speak about what they’re considering and feeling. Seek support from friends, family, or professionals, if crucial.
• Try to keep up routines and schedules to advertise feelings of consistency and balance to scale back anxiety related to the traumatic event.
• Be mindful to contemplate the quantity of exposure to the news / media, particularly to children. It’s okay to participate within the remembrance, but continuing to view the photographs, etc., may worsen or extend the problems the person is experiencing.

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OCHN offers mental health suggestions

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