TALKING ABOUT TRAUMA WITH CHILDREN
Children who have passed through traumatic experiences at individual or collective levels exhibit varying degrees of mental health issues. PTSD can manifest in different forms.
Children of Tigray and many other parts in Ethiopia have experienced unimaginable levels of trauma. They have been denied access to education, health services and in many instances to food. They have been directly subjected to physical (beatings, torture, being shot at and more), verbal and other forms of abuse. They have also witnessed atrocities including mass killings, rape and other forms of trauma.It is known that children respond to trauma in several different ways. The reactions may come with short time or may come after weeks, months or even years.
Although, many will need professional services, you can help in many ways.
• Create an environment and a mind set that allows children to express their feelings
• Initiate the conversation in order to save them from filling empty spaces with speculations and to give them factual information, start the conversation.
• Allow them to ask questions. This is the best way to start. Listen to them and respond in in a supportive way.
• Answer questions in ways that children can understand and ask them if they understood (you may ask them to repeat occasionally)
• Do not be afraid to say “I do not know” when they ask you a question the answer of which you do not know.
• Talking about trauma will not scare them. The most important thing is making them feel secure and let them know that you are there.
Equally important is for you to be adequately informed. Read, discuss and share.
This venue is meant for you to ask questions, to share what you know and to seek support.