FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The Stockton community is still reeling after a mass shooting took the lives of four people, including three children.

The violent crime happened during a child’s birthday party.

The victims were ages 8, 9, 14 and 21 years old. Eleven others were also hurt, including a 9-year-old child.

With many mourning the lives lost and searching for answers, it could be hard to process the trauma that happened — especially for younger kids.

“It is sad,” said Dr. Amy Parks, the Executive Director of NAMI Fresno. “It is scary and confusing.”

Dr. Parks explains that while sharing information with younger children is important, make sure it’s at an age-appropriate level.

“I think it’s also important to leave room for them to ask questions,” said Dr. Parks. “I think that it’s okay for adults to share, not in-depth, how we feel about what has happened, but we can validate those thoughts and feelings that kids might not be able to articulate.”

It’s also important to give kids a safe space to talk about their feelings. Dr. Parks adds to watch out for any changes in behavior, such as changes in appetite or feeling disconnected, to name a few.

“If you see that a child’s sleep routine might be a little disruptive, they’re having more nightmares or waking up a lot, that might be a symptom they’re having difficulty processing,” said Dr. Parks.

As for adults, Dr. Parks says it’s common to feel all kinds of negative emotions when they hear about a traumatic situation, and that puts us in a vulnerable state.

“We try to push them away,” said Dr. Parks. “It’s really important to feel them, feel those feelings. The more you let yourself feel it, the more your brain is going to process those feelings.”

While it’s important to acknowledge the negative feelings, it’s also good to try and set limits for yourself. Mental health experts also share this advice.

“Focusing on gratitude,” said Dr. Parks. “There is science behind the more you focus on gratitude consistently every day, it rewires your brain to feel more positive mental health.”

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