Helping children affected by an emergency

If your child or a young person in your care has been involved in a major incident or event, they may experience behaviour and mood changes. There is help for young people to cope with these emotional and physical effects, including specialised clinics and organisations offering advice and support.

Children's reactions to trauma

Just like adults, children react to death and trauma in different ways at different times. Psychologists have identified wide ranging behaviours that can be seen in infants and children under stress:

sleep problems
irritability
reverting to immature behaviour
changes in relationships with parents, brothers, sisters and peers
preoccupation with the trauma
reduced school performance
overactive behaviour
exaggerated reactions to small crises

What may be helpful

There are a number of things that parents, carers and schools can do to help young people deal with the after-effects of a major incident:

tell children what has happened, giving them the facts (but without unnecessary detail), as this helps prevent their imagination taking over
reassure them about the future and encourage them to express emotions and to play, laugh and explore even though you may not feel like it
maintain routine and familiarity to help them sense that life is secure and predictable - attending school can help with this
re-involve the child in chores and responsibilities as soon as they are ready to cope with them again

You could also check the RD4U website, which has been designed for young people coping with a bereavement.

Your reactions

It is worth remembering that as a parent, carer or teacher your reactions to a crisis can strongly influence a child's response to it. It is therefore important that you ensure that you take some time to care for your own emotional well-being. Speak to your GP if you are having difficulty coping. The Cruse Bereavement Care site has further information.

Cruse Bereavement Care website

Help and support organisations

It is very important that you contact your GP for assistance if you feel that your child may need support. The following websites and agencies also offer support to young people and their parents or carers.

The UCL Institute of Child Health

The UCL Institute of Child Health, in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital, is the largest centre in Europe devoted to clinical and basic research and postgraduate teaching in children’s health.