Providing Psychosocial Support to Children and Families in the Aftermath of Disasters and Crises

Abstract

Disasters have the potential to cause short-and long-term effects on the psychological functioning, emotional adjustment, health, and developmental trajectory of children. This clinical report provides practical suggestions on how to identify common adjustment difficulties in children in the aftermath of a disaster and to promote effective coping strategies to mitigate the impact of the disaster as well as any associated bereavement and secondary stressors. This information can serve as a guide to pediatricians as they offer anticipatory guidance to families or consultation to schools, child care centers, and other child congregate care sites. Knowledge of risk factors for adjustment difficulties can serve as the basis for mental health triage. The importance of basic supportive services, psychological first aid, and professional self-care are discussed. Stress is intrinsic to many major life events that children and families face, including the experience of significant illness and its treatment. The information provided in this clinical report may, therefore, be relevant for a broad range of patient encounters, even outside the context of a disaster. Most pediatricians enter the profession because of a heartfelt desire to help children and families most in need. If adequately prepared and supported, pediatricians who are able to draw on their skills to assist children, families, and communities to recover after a disaster will find the work to be particularly rewarding.

WITHDRAWN: Process Evaluation of TeamUp: A Movement–Based Psychosocial Intervention for Refugee Children in the Netherlands

“…Children on the move, including unaccompanied minors, are particularly vulnerable during the different phases of migration (Eide & Hjern, 2013;Carlson et al, 2012). Even when basic services (shelter, food, education) are provided, children's and adolescents' psychosocial needs are often left unidenti ed and unaddressed, potentially leading to long-term consequences for their wellbeing (Schonfeld & Demaria, 2015). Despite arriving in a stable and safe country like the Netherlands, the complexity of the asylum system contributes to continued uncertainty about the future, further affecting people's mental health when needs are overlooked (Laban et al, 2004;Hallas et al, 2007).…”

Stress, Trauma, Sepsis, Inflammation, Management in Asthma

“…Disasters have the potential to cause short-and long-term effects on the psychological functioning, emotional adjustment, health, and developmental trajectory of children [19]. Schonfeld provided practical suggestions on how to identify common adjustment diffi culties in children in the aftermath of a disaster and to promote effective coping strategies as well as any associated bereavement and secondary stressors [20]. This information can serve as a guide to pediatricians as they offer anticipatory guidance to families or consultation to schools, child care centers for mental health.…”

A Call for a Better Response to Major Disasters

“…Children also should not be and other child health care professionals to become prepared to provide psychosocial support to children and families after a disaster-which can occur in any community. 3 Puerto Rico was underresourced and undersupported by the United States well before Hurricane Maria; the data provided within this study, coupled with media and other reports, document that too little has been done to correct this level of support. The incremental effect on at-risk children in Puerto Rico from this massive natural disaster is only beginning to become evident.…”