MEDIA
RELEASE
HELPING
KIDS COPE IN A TIME OF CRISIS AND FEAR
Exposure to the vivid images of war may cause children to have an increased
sense of fear about their safety and the safety of others and it
is important to provide reassurance and a sense of safety and security
while not sacrificing honesty and truth, according to the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.
Christopher Hall, a psychologist and Director the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement in Melbourne said that “It is important to remember
that just as many adults are trying to make sense of these unfolding
events, so too children are struggling with understanding and responding
to these events”.
As the conflict with Iraq intensifies we are frequently confronted
with distressing images of the injured, missile launches and military
hardware and with this the sense of anxiety and fear for many Australian
adults and children also increases.
So how do we respond to the needs of children? Hall says, “There
is no one typical reaction one can or should expect from children.
Responses may range from disinterest to anxiety and nightmares. How
a child responds will depend on several factors including their age,
which will determine their ability to understand and process the event”.
Hall went on to say that “the child’s personality will
also influence their response. Fearful children will tend to worry
and quiet children may keep their feelings to themselves. Finally,
their personal connection to the event — particularly
if they had a relative, friend or acquaintance in the defence forces
or if they have had other recent traumatic events in their lives — will
significantly influence their response”.
Children may have an increased sense of fear about their safety and
the safety of others. It’s important to provide reassurance and
a sense of safety and security while not sacrificing honesty and truth. Don’t
lie to children about what happened. Children will inevitably hear
conversations about and see images of the war. They need opportunities
to process how they think and feel.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provides seven tips on helping children
to cope:
1.
|
Listen
to what they are saying, verbally as well as observe what their
behaviour is telling you.
|
2.
|
Limit exposure
to television and print images of the war as it can fuel fears
and insecurities.
|
3.
|
Ask them “What
have you heard?” and finish conversations by providing
reassurance.
|
4.
|
Be honest,
don’t lie about what is taking place.
|
5.
|
Continue
with normal routines at home.
|
6.
|
Don’t
be surprised if children or adolescents don’t “act
their age”. Some children will be anxious and insecure
and they may revert to younger behaviours.
|
7.
|
Children
and teens will often feel better when they are given a chance
to “do something” such as lighting a candle, making
a drawing or saying a prayer.
|
| Place of
release: |
Melbourne |
| Date: |
Friday April
4th 2003 |
For further
information contact:
Christopher Hall
Director
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Telephone (03) 9265 2155 or mobile 0419 381 377 or AH (03) 9754 4402
Facsimile (03) 9265 2150
E-mail c.hall@grief.org.au.
