Children More Vulnerable To Disaster-Related Stress
Release Date: November 5, 2003
Release Number: 1498-09
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Pasadena, CA - The devastating wildfires that tore through Southern California have left behind more than physical destruction. As people begin to rebuild their homes-and their lives-they must also confront the anguish of losing a home. Children are particularly vulnerable to the stress that follows a natural disaster, and their symptoms may linger much longer than expected, according to mental health experts.
Parents should be alert to signs of stress-related troubles and learn how to deal with their children's fears and unusual behaviors.
For children ages five or younger, watch for such behaviors as: crying more frequently than usual, clinging, having nightmares, showing excessive fear of the dark, fear of animals, fear of being alone, changing appetites, speaking with difficulty, or returning to outgrown behaviors such as bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.
Children ages 5-11 may exhibit increased irritability, aggression, and competing with their siblings for parental attention, or show anxiety through whining, withdrawal from their peers and loss of interest in normal activities.
Those 11-18 may show outright rebellion, physical problems, apathy or sleep disturbance.
Those signs of anxiety often result from the losses, disruption to family life, and a sense of a hostile world created by a natural disaster. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services have developed a list of tips for helping children deal with the disaster. Suggestions include:
Spend some time each day giving each child your undivided attention, even if just for a few minutes. Share experiences, reaffirm your love, make plans together, and just "be there" for each other.
Encourage them to talk. Encourage children to describe what they are feeling. Let them talk about the disaster and ask as many questions as they like. Listen to what they say. Assure them that the disaster was an act of nature and that they did not cause it. Include the entire family in the discussion, if possible.
Understand their fears. It is important that parents accept anxieties as being very real to children. Help them cope by getting them to understand what causes their anxieties and fears. Recognize their losses, such as their pets, favorite toys and other personal items. Reassure them with firmness and love that everything will be all right. Through your persistence, children will realize life will eventually return to normal. If a child does not respond to the above suggestions, seek help for them from a mental health professional.
Individuals seeking additional information about stress counseling and services available should contact their local mental health agencies. Following is a list of mental health departments in the declared counties and their contact telephone numbers:
| Los Angeles | 800-854-7771 |
| Riverside | 909-358-4705 |
| San Bernardino | 888-743-1478 |
| San Diego | 800-479-3339 |
| Ventura | 805-652-6727 |
The California Mental Health Web Site at www.dmh.cahwnet.gov offers a listing of all county crisis-intervention numbers and also provides extensive behavioral health links to information for families, children, elderly, businesses and emergency responders. Individuals desiring mental health services may contact their primary care physician for a mental health services referral.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California's readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 06-Nov-2003 14:27:04