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Supporting Students After a School Tragedy

Resources for educators, school staff, and crisis response teams, including crisis hotlines, student and family support services, and guidance for responding to school and tragedies.

Resources for Teachers and Staff

Our educators are often the first point of contact for students processing grief and trauma. To support their efforts in the classroom, please share the following practical guidance materials and immediate crisis contacts with your teachers and school site staff.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline External link opens in new window or tab.
Call or text 988. Available 24/7/365 for free and confidential emotional support.

California Youth Crisis Line External link opens in new window or tab.
A 24/7 statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families. Call or text 800-843-5200.

CalHOPE Warmline
Connects teens and adults to peer support for stress, anxiety, or trauma. Call 833-317-HOPE (4673).

Comprehensive Mental Health Resources for Youth External link opens in new window or tab.
Resources from California Health and Human Services.

Teen Line External link opens in new window or tab.
A confidential teen crisis hotline. Call 800-852-8336.

Behavioral Health Best Practice Resources for Addressing Trauma and Violence External link opens in new window or tab.

Recognize, Respond, Connect: Supporting the Behavioral Health of Our Students External link opens in new window or tab.

Child Mind Institute External link opens in new window or tab.
Provides resources for families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Email info@childmind.org or call 212-308-3118.

Resources for School Leaders and Crisis Response Teams

Effective crisis response requires coordinated leadership and access to robust professional networks. We encourage site leaders and crisis teams to utilize the following preparedness resources and state-level organizational partners to supplement local counseling capacity.

California Department of Education Resources for Mental Health:
Crisis Response
Mental Health Resources
Help for Students in Crisis
Coping with Tragedy

California Association of School Counselors (CASC)
School staff can contact CASC (casc@schoolcounselor-ca.org or 909-815-5222) for referrals for students and families.

The California Alliance of Children and Family Services (CA Alliance)
Represents 160 nonprofits providing community counseling. Their Helpline (1¬833-99YOUTH or 1-833-999-6884) connects schools to behavioral health services. Helpline email: youth@catalyst-center.org.

California Health and Human Services (CHHS) External link opens in new window or tab.
Provides a comprehensive hub of mental health resources for youth.

National Association of School Psychologists External link opens in new window or tab.
Resources to help educators support the mental health needs of their school community.

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter (NASW-CA)
A workforce resource that school staff can contact (contact@naswca.org or 916-442-4565) to find local resources for discussing recent tragedies.

Questions:   Office of School-Based Health and Safety Programs | OSBHP@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, October 27, 2026