Define the roles of students, staff, administrators, parents and community members in the process. Carefully consider the location of any permanent memorial. Be especially aware of how similar events in other locations may trigger renewed feelings or latent reactions to the tragedy. Traumatic events can trigger extreme feelings of helplessness and hopelessness long after the initial trauma occurs. These feelings may also lead to thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.
Some people also have feelings of inadequacy about dealing with the ongoing tragedy.
Sometimes a new trauma will leave a survivor or family member with the feeling that they can't handle the tragedy as well as they think people expect them to. In addition psychologists say suicides, divorce, drinking, and reckless behavior all rise after a major community tragedy. After the immediate trauma, people hope they will return to normal. When they realize nothing can be the same again, their initial trauma responses-such as anxiety and nightmares return. Care should be taken in communicating to the community acceptance of these reactions, however unexpected and strange they may seem.