Communicating with Children about Disasters

Dear SL colleagues,

In response to the tragic events unfolding in New York and Washington, DC,
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) would like to offer some advice on
how to communicate with children and adolescents during times of crisis.

* It's important to communicate to children that they're safe. Given what
they may have seen on television, they need to know that the violence is
isolated to certain areas and they will not be harmed. Parents should try to
assure children that they've done everything they can to keep their children
safe.

* Adolescents in particular can be hard hit by these kinds of events and
parents might want to watch for signs such as: sleep disturbances, fatigue,
lack of pleasure in activities enjoyed previously, and initiation of illicit
substance abuse.

* Overexposure to the media can be traumatizing. It's unwise to let children
or adolescents view footage of traumatic events over and over. Children and
adolescents should not watch these events alone.

* Adults need to help children understand the significance of these events.
Discussion is critical. It should be stressed that the terrorist acts are
ones of desperation and horror - and that they're not about politics or
religion. Children should know that lashing out at members of a particular
religious or ethnic group will only cause more harm.

The following AAP documents can be found at:

http://www.aap.org/policy/re9813.html
<http://www.aap.org/policy/re9813.html>  - How Pediatricians Can Respond to
the Psychosocial Implications of Disasters (AAP Policy statement)
http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/SMA95-3022/SMA3022.htm
<http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/SMA95-3022/SMA3022.htm>  -
Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A Guide for the
Primary Care Physician (Joint publication between AAP and US Center for
Mental Health Services)
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9702.html
<http://www.aap.org/policy/re9702.html>  - The Pediatrician's Role in
Disaster Preparedness (AAP policy statement)
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/disarticle.htm
<http://www.aap.org/advocacy/disarticle.htm>  - Child Deaths Hit Communities
Hard: Disasters Demand Psychological Triage (AAP News article)

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has suggestions for
"Helping Children After a Disaster." They can be found at
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm
<http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm>

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