RALEIGH, N.C. — Many parents are having serious conversations with their children after last week’s mass shooting in Raleigh, while asking how they're feeling. 

A child psychologist said she can’t help but look at what happened from more than one perspective.

"When this happened in our community, it hit a little bit closer to home because Raleigh is my home, and one of the victims was a school psychologist, which is how I was trained, and a 15-year-old child was involved in this situation,” Dr. Emily King said.

Five people were shot and killed by a teenager in the Hedingham neighborhood in East Raleigh last week.

King is a mother to two boys, an engaged citizen, and like one of the victims, Susan Karnatz, she is a former school psychologist.

All of those roles impacted King's view of the tragedy. Her oldest son is 15, which is the same age as the shooter.

King shared her thoughts candidly on Instagram. “This is an incredibly hard day for us,” she said in a video posted on her Instagram story.

The mental health provider reflected on her time working in the Texas public school system after college. “I have memories of being a school psychologist in high school that come back up when things like this happen,” King said.

Beyond the pain are real humans experiencing intense emotions.

The doctor says we can take this time to start learning noticeable signs of disturbing behavior.

“Something that’s changed about them can be a red flag,” she said.

King said to be aware of noticeable changes in a child’s behavior. She said key indicators could be a child appearing withdrawn from the world.

They could also be adopting the negative social habits of a new friend group.

Below are other examples:

• An increasing frequency in irritability

• Changes in mood like the onset of depression

• Falling behind in their schoolwork

• Be alert for a newfound obsession with weapons

• Comments about taking out revenge against people.

King said building strong relationships and connections with your children make these signs easier to identify.

“The more we can hear what is going on in their mind and in their emotions, and we can catch these things earlier and faster if we are more connected to our kids,” she said.

King emphasizes the importance of saying something if you see something.

The doctor said a complex problem deserves complex solutions.

The health professional said more funding for public education is needed so teachers and students have someone in the building they can go to with their feelings.

She gives one last piece of advice. If you have a concern about your child’s emotional well-being, a change in personality or a change in academic success related to depression, make sure there is no access to ways of harming themselves and others.