Just one day after a devastating tornado tore through parts of Mississippi, dozens of mental health professionals, caregivers and child advocates still arrived at the Lincoln County Civic Center for the Children’s Mental Health Conference 2026.
Held under the theme “Compassion in Action: Trauma-Responsive Care for Children,” the conference focused on helping adults better understand how children process trauma, anxiety and emotional distress following disasters and major life disruptions.
Some attendees were unable to reach the event because of dangerous road conditions and storm damage. Those who attended sent a powerful message about the urgency of children’s mental health support in disaster recovery efforts.
The event took place on National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and brought together professionals working directly with children across schools, counselling services and community organisations.
Conference host and keynote speaker Megan M. Hamm, founder of Time For A Change Counseling, LLC, said the event highlighted both the emotional needs of children and the dedication of those supporting them.
“What happened in that room was bigger than a conference,” said Hamm.
“People drove through storm damage to be there. That tells you everything about the heart of the people doing this work — and it tells you how urgent the need really is.”
Mental health experts say children often process trauma differently from adults, with symptoms such as nightmares, withdrawal, anger, anxiety and clinginess sometimes emerging days or weeks after a traumatic event.
The conference aimed to equip caregivers, teachers and mental health professionals with practical tools to better recognise and respond to trauma-related behaviours in children.
Attendees received resources, training materials and trauma-responsive strategies they could immediately apply within their schools, counselling practices and communities.
The event also marked the release of Hamm’s new children’s book, Even When It’s Hard: A Story About Big Feelings and Hope, which focuses on emotional resilience and mental wellbeing for children.
Hamm, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and registered play therapist, has nearly two decades of clinical experience and is also the creator of the H.E.A.R.T. Framework, a compassion-based approach to behavioural escalation in children.
As recovery efforts continue following the tornado, organisers say the need for trauma-responsive care remains critical for families and children navigating the emotional impact of disaster recovery.
