When children witness the effects of trauma on their parents, it can change how they see the world. Children of first responders—police, firefighters, EMTs, military personnel, paramedics, and corrections officers—are especially vulnerable, as their parents, by the very nature of their jobs, are routinely exposed to traumatic events that can impact their own mental health.

“In general, children who see the impact of traumatic events on their parents may become more anxious or fearful about life or feel an intense sense of responsibility to anticipate moods and try to keep their parents happy,” says Iris Perlstein, clinical coordinator with First Responder Treatment Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health. “This secondary exposure can cause considerable suffering in a child’s life.”

“Even though children might not know what a first responder parent experienced on a given day, they do see the stress response,” Perlstein says. “Children see the depression, the substance abuse, the nightmares and the hypervigilance, and this exposure puts them at risk for second-hand trauma.”

As part of the First Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House, Perlstein counsels first responders on how to protect their children from second-hand trauma. She recommends that parents create an environment in which children feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings. Acknowledge that child’s feelings and behavior make sense when there are facts and logic to support it. Demonstrate that even though children are young, their feelings carry equal weight as part of the family.