Helping Newtown: Reopening a School in the Aftermath of Tragedy

Abstract

Four days after the Sandy Hook tragedy, the schools of Newtown, Connecticut reopened. The author discusses his work as a leader of a mental health team which supported the students, teachers, and parents in one elementary school. The goal was not just to restore the school system in its educational role, but also sustain it as a source of psychological and emotional support. The author illustrates the step by step process by which clinical and supportive services were developed and provided. Specific issues related to managing affect in an institution are demonstrated, and the special psychological demands on teaching staff are highlighted as is the significance of tapping into community resilience. The importance of a responsive empathic approach broadly applied and attuned to both community and individual needs is emphasized.