Newswise — ADEC, The Thanatology Association, offers its condolences and resources to all who were affected by the Blacksburg, Virginia, shootings. Likewise, we recognize that the scope and impact of the violence extends far beyond Virginia Tech University. Students of all ages are touched by this tragedy, regardless of where they attend school. They may be feeling vulnerable, afraid, and concerned about their own safety.

"Because this kind of assaultive death disrupts the entire culture, at some level each of us becomes a survivor," says Helen Stanton Chapple, president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).

How to Helpo Schools can be helpful by letting their students know what safety measures are in place and by providing a space for students to talk and be heard. o Parents can be especially attentive to their children, listening to their concerns and allowing them to express their feelings.o Be attentive to post-traumatic responses.

In many cases, tragedies like this can trigger responses to previous trauma or grief. Those affected should seek out local grief resources, including hospices, campus counseling centers, school counselors, community mental health agencies and other agencies and professionals that deal with trauma and grief.

For more information, go to www.adec.org/coping, where you can find a wide variety of articles, links and organizational resources for dealing with loss.

The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), founded in 1976, is a professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence and recognizing diversity in death education, care of the dying, grief counseling and research in thanatology. Based on quality research and theory, the association provides information, support and resources to its international, multicultural, multidisciplinary membership and through it, to the public.