After severe disasters, even children as young as 7 and 8 have attempted suicide. Some children withdraw from life. Boys tend to have more difficulty talking about their losses and showing their feelings. Children also develop in character. Many show insight and increasing concern for others.
Adolescents tend to lose some of their sense of invulnerability.
They realize they, or someone like them, could be devastated by a similar disaster. Any kind of marked change in behavior may indicate a strong need for mental health consultation. Extreme behaviors also signal a need for intervention. Destructive acts toward property, harming pets or people, frequent panic attacks, or substance abuse call for immediate action on the child's behalf. Children's coping often depends on how well their parents are coping.