RESPONDING TO THE PHILIPPINES T YPHOON

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) is part of the Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Helping Students After a Disaster
The magnitude of death and■■ Explain that these are actually rare
The magnitude of death anddestruction in this event requireand unlikely events.
special attention to communicating■■ Tell them that there are warning
destruction in this event requirewith children and adolescents. Physicalsystems in place.
special attention to communicating
safety and security always take priority.
■■ Engage your children in
It is difficult to predict the kinds ofwith children and adolescents.
conversations of their choosing —psychological problems that children
not necessarily about their feelings
and adolescents will have; however,or the scene. Talking about the normal events of life is
the following management plan may help minimize latercentral to health.
difficulties:■■ Increase your children’s sense of control and mastery.
■■ Everyone has a different way of responding to trauma.
■■ Encourage your family to discuss and plan disaster
It is not advisable to require the same response ofpreparedness together. Let them plan an activity.
everyone. Listen to your children’s stories.
■■ Older children and adolescents may feel “stirred up”.
■■ Maintain daily routines to the extent possible. Now
Helping them understand their behavior and setting
is not the time to introduce new routines. Familiar
limits can help.
schedules can be reassuring.
■■ Some children may respond by being distracted or■■ Your response to the disaster will affect your children’s
having trouble remembering things. These should beresponse; therefore, it is helpful to discuss your own
tolerated and understood.
reactions with other adults before talking with your■■ Be alert to changes in students’ usual behavior (e.g.,children.
drop in grades, loss of interest, not doing homework,■■ Be alert to children expressing overwhelming feelings
increased sleepiness or distraction, isolating themselves,in discussions. Limiting time can help your children
weight loss or gain).
express what they wish and not more than they mightwish they had.
■■ Discuss the event in an open honest manner with yourchildren. Children might want to talk intermittently, andyounger children might need concrete information tobe repeated.
■■ Limit exposure to television and other sources of
information about the disaster and its victims.
■■ Filter the information your child receives by restricting
or limiting their access to media.
■■ Too much information about victims increases distressthrough over identification.
■■ Help children limit the extent to which they personalize
or identify with the victims or the situation.
■■ To decrease over identification with the victims provide
concrete information about how they differ from thepeople involved in the disaster.
■■ Remind students that they are safe.

For Younger Children:■■ Reassure younger children that they are safe and that
their family and other adults will take care of them.
■■ Fearful younger children may need to touch base fromtime to time throughout the day during the early stages
following a crisis.
■■ Acknowledge questions about the death and thedestruction.
■■ Acknowledge your child’s feelings: “You sound sad/angry/worried…” “Are you sad/ angry/ worried?”■■ Remind them that their feelings are okay.
■■ Acknowledge that you, too, may feel sad, angry, orworried.
For Older Students:■■ Acknowledge the importance of peers in helping toreestablish normalcy.

Continued

■■ For many teens, their cognitive abilities are often greaterthan their emotional capacity to manage highly stressfulsituations. Expect emotional swings.
■■ Remember the importance of providing emotional
support by “naming” the expectable reactions ofsadness, numbness, anger, fear, and confusion. Explain
how seemingly inappropriate giddiness, laughter, orcallousness often are used to distance ourselves frombecoming overwhelmed.

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
Tel: 301-295-2470 | Fax: 301-319-6965
www.CSTSonline.org