MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The tragic news of the deadly shooting in Georgia could be traumatic for students around the nation.
Horrific situations such as mass shootings can often leave parents trying to figure out how to help their kids make sense of those violent acts.
Ellie Mental Health clinical manager Paige Marcantel said one of the first things parents or guardians need to understand is that kids are impacted by what they see or experience.
She said it's imperative for parents to give their child a space to express how they feel.
"We want to let our kids know that, yes, this very scary thing happened...but also, I'm here as your parent to support you, to help you," Marcantel said.
Following the shooting in Georgia, schools in the Mid-South faced threats.
In Georgia, a deadly mass shooting on Wednesday took the lives of four people. The suspect was 14 years old.
On Thursday morning, a MSCS student was detained at Geeter K-8 School for bringing a gun to school.
Hours later, in Fayette County, County Commissioner Adrian Wiggins said Oakland Elementary received a bomb threat. He said while no one was hurt, these types of incidents should not be happening.
"I feel sorry for the teachers that have to deal with this and react in a very stressful situation. I can't imagine getting a call and saying you need to get your child from school," Wiggins said. "No parent wants to get that call."
Marcantel said these kinds of violent acts can have a profound effect on children's mental well-being. She said parents need to be aware of the signs they'll show if something is bothering them.
"If you notice changes in your child with eating, appetite, sleep, ability to focus and concentrate - kind of what's the norm for them - it's always a good idea to reach out to a professional therapist," she said.
Marcantel said parents or guardians should take time to have a conversation about what their child is seeing on television or experiencing in class.
"In general, school is still a very, very safe place for them to be, but they, of course, can pay attention to their friends [and] what's going on," Marcantel said. "If they see something or hear something, they do need to tell a trusted adult at school and at home."
Marcantel said not all parents understand how to navigate traumas their child could be going through; she suggests seeking professional help for both the child and the parent.