For Immediate Release
Contact: Rob Grant, Communications Director
202.966.7300, ext. 119 rgrant@aacap.org
Samantha Phillips, Communications Manager
202.966.7300, ext. 154 sphillips@aacap.org

Washington, DC, March 15, 2019 – We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the mass shootings at New Zealand mosques. As an association dedicated to helping children and families around the globe, our thoughts are with the children, families, and communities impacted by this act of senseless violence. In hopes of helping families and children cope with violence and violent images, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) compiled the following resources:

• AACAP Facts for Families, "Firearms and Children" 
• AACAP Policy Statement, "Children and Guns"
• AACAP Facts for Families, "Disaster: Helping Children Cope"
• AACAP Facts for Families, "News and Children"
• AACAP Facts for Families, "Grief and Children"
• AACAP Disaster Resource Center 

These resources are a starting point for addressing trauma and are not intended to serve as a substitute for psychiatric treatment or counseling. Our resources were created for those coping with loss and grief, and for those seeking to foster a dialogue with their children about regional, national, and international news events. If you would like to speak to an expert, please reach out to the co-chairs of AACAP’s Disaster & Trauma Issues Committee:

• Steven Berkowitz, MD, steven.berkowitz@ucdenver.edu
• Linda Chokroverty, MD, chocolatebirdie@live.com

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry promotes the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are the leading physician authority on children’s mental health. For more information, please visit www.aacap.org.