The VIPPS team is committed to supporting individuals, families, caregivers, and providers impacted by gun violence. We recognize that navigating the aftermath of violence can affect many areas of life, from emotional well-being and day-to-day coping to work, education, and long-term stability.
The resources below are designed to provide relevant information and practical support at your own pace. Topics include self-care and coping strategies, grief and loss, grounding techniques, supporting children and families, and resources for providers and caregivers supporting individuals impacted by violence.
Whether you are looking for information to support yourself or someone else, we hope these resources help you identify tools, understand available support, and take the next step when you are ready. For those interested in getting the files individually, you can access them below
You can view a version of VIPPS presentation from the Bridging the Distance event here.
Coping With Grief After Traumatic or Sudden Loss
When a family member or close friend dies, it is common and normal to experience sadness, grief, and a range of other emotions. This article provides information about common reactions to loss, as well as tips and suggestions for coping with grief and adjusting to life after a loss.
Things Families Can Do to Cope with Trauma
When traumatic events happen, it is common to experience unsettling feelings, thoughts and behaviors. This article provides information for coping.
Sleep Hygiene Tips
Sleep hygiene refers to the habits and routines that can support healthy, restful sleep. Stress, changes in routine, and difficult life experiences can all interfere with sleep, making it especially important to develop habits that promote rest and recovery.
Healthy sleep habits can include maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule, creating a quiet and comfortable sleep environment, limiting caffeine and electronic devices before bedtime, getting regular physical activity, and allowing time to relax and wind down before bed. Small changes to your daily routine can help support better sleep and overall well-being.
The article below will provide 15 tips and ideas for improving one’s sleep hygiene. For more information and practical tips for improving sleep habits, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s guide to Healthy Sleep Habits.
Access Sleep Hygiene File Here
These information sheets was created by Harborview’s Abuse & Trauma Center (HATC), a program of UW Medicine at Harborview Medical Center. VIPP works with Harborview’s Abuse and Trauma Clinic to connect patients, family members, and community members impacted by gun violence with trauma therapy. This therapy is flexible and accessible and may include brief trauma therapy, longer-term trauma-informed therapy, in-person sessions, or telehealth/Zoom therapy.
To learn more about HATC and what they do, use this link to get directed to their website. For additional tips and resources, you can also use this link to access their CBT+ Notebook page which is home to 20+ additional resources.
Age-Related Reactions to Traumatic Events
One of the fundamental goals of parenting is to help a child grow and thrive to their greatest potential. BY understanding how children experience traumatic event and express lingering distress over such experiences, parents, physicians, communities and schools can respond to their children help them through challenging times. The article believe will provide information on how children react and on ways one can help support children and adolescents through the emotional and physical challenges they face after exposure to traumatic events.
This information sheet was created by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), which was established by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act. NCTSN acts raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events.
To learn more about NCTSN, use this link to get directed to their website. If you are interested in accessing the age-related reactions to traumatic events information sheet in other languages, you can use this link to access the available options.
Building Your Coping Toolbox
Everyone goes through periods of hardship and stress, and it is important to take care of yourself and have tools available to use when times get difficult. A coping toolbox is a collection of skills, techniques, items, and other resources that you can turn to when you begin to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or distressed.
Creating a coping toolbox can be as simple as making a list of things that help you feel better, such as breathing exercises, listening to music, or going for a run. You can also create a physical toolbox and fill it with items such as a stress ball, encouraging notes to yourself, or photos that bring you comfort or make you happy.
This article provides tips and ideas for building your own coping toolbox and identifying strategies that work best for you.
This information was created by Mental Health America, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the mental health and well-being of all people living within the United States. To learn more about MHA, visit there site here.
Grounding Techniques
Grounding techniques are strategies that can help you reconnect with the present moment when you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, distressed, or reminded of a traumatic experience. They work by directing your attention toward what is happening around you right now, rather than toward distressing thoughts, memories, or worries. Grounding can involve focusing on your senses, such as noticing what you can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste, as well as using breathing, movement, or other techniques that help you feel more connected to your surroundings.
Grounding techniques are one tool for managing distress and may be especially helpful when experiencing trauma-related reactions such as flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. Different techniques work for different people, so it can be helpful to try several approaches and identify what works best for you.
These articles below provide practical grounding techniques and coping strategies that can be used when anxiety or distress arises. To learn more about grounding techniques, visit the Psychology Today article by Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., “What Are Grounding Techniques?”
Access Common Reactions to Trauma File Here
Access Coping with Anxiety File Here
Access Grounding Technique File Here
These information sheets were created by Therapist Aid, which supports more than one million mental health professionals around the world with simple, research-informed worksheets, audio, videos, guides, and other resources.
To learn more about Therapist Aid and explore their resources, visit their website here.