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Free Resources for those impacted and ways others can help

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Free Resources for those impacted and ways others can help

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The people of Ukraine will have many needs in the coming months and years. The most pressing priority at this stage of the emerging catastrophe is to ensure physical safety and to meet other basic needs such as food, shelter, and access to medicines.

If you choose to help financially, a good way to do this is to make a donation to any of the following established organizations:

There will inevitably be psychological fallout from this war. In anticipation of this - and in the hope that it will be helpful when the time is right - we have translated a selection of trauma psychoeducation resources into Ukrainian and are making them available for free to everyone to download and use.

Many Polish and Russian speaking Ukrainians are also being affected by the crisis. We have made the same resources available for free in Polish, Russian and English too, so that they can be useful to as many people as possible that need them.

What resources have been translated?

How Trauma Can Affect You
This is an illustrated information handout designed for children and young people. It describes and normalizes common reactions to traumatic events, including feeling scared, having unwanted memories, or having nightmares and sleeping badly.

Symptoms experienced post-trauma can be physically and emotionally powerful, and can feel especially disturbing if the person doesn't know why they are occurring. This resource can help children and adolescents to understand that they are experiencing normal reactions to powerful events. It can also be used to help wider family and other people to understand how young people might be feeling.

Download now:

Reactions To Trauma
This is an information handout designed for adults. It describes symptoms which commonly follow trauma - including re-experiencing symptoms, hyperarousal, and avoidance. It also gives helpful pointers about what to do to help someone who has experienced trauma.

Download now:

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is a guide designed to help people with PTSD to understand more about their condition. As well as a description of trauma, symptoms of PTSD, and effective treatments, this guide explores key maintenance factors for PTSD including: unprocessed memories, beliefs about trauma and its consequences, and coping strategies including avoidance.

Written in a friendly and explanatory way, this guide is a comprehensive source of information for those with PTSD. The concepts are explained in an easily digestible way, with case examples and accessible diagrams.

Download now:

What can you do to help?

We would like these resources to help as many people as possible. With your support we can reach a much wider network of people who have been affected by this crisis. Please share this article with colleagues, and anyone or anywhere you think the tools might be useful. You don't need to be a member of Psychology Tools to download these resources and they are completely free.

Best wishes,

The Psychology Tools Team

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Free Ukrainian, Polish, And Russian Translations Of Trauma And PTSD Psychoeducational Resources | Psychology Tools

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A selection of trauma psychoeducation resources in Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish available for free to everyone to download and use.

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Newswise - When terrible events, such as the terrorist events days ago in New York and New Jersey, following the attacks in Nice, France, and Orlando, Florida, occur, children and adolescents can become emotionally unsettled.

News reports, conversations between adults overheard and law enforcement activities witnessed firsthand, can impact youngsters' attitudes, thoughts and behavior to the point that professional intervention may be needed, according to Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC), New Jersey's primary youth suicide prevention program at Rutgers' University Behavioral Health Care. TLC is funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Family and Community Partnerships, Office of School Linked Services.

TLC, supported by a coordinator in each county of New Jersey, is often called upon by local school districts to lend support or take the lead role in response to a crisis. This past spring, some New Jersey teachers self-reported a marked increase in worrisome behavior among students in grades 5 through 12: meltdowns, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, nightmares and regression in development behavior. This is a reflection of a nationwide survey, conducted by the Southern Poverty Law Center, asking approximately 2,000 teachers how the presidential campaign was affecting their students and their teaching. The results indicated that the campaign is having a profoundly negative impact on schoolchildren across the country, producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom.

"Children of all ages are reacting as if they have experienced a traumatic event. Some would say they have," said Maureen Brogan, TLC statewide coordinator.

Rutgers Today spoke with Brogan about how parents and educators can help children maintain or regain their sense of safety and security, particularly following violent tragedies such as those that have occurred in recent months.

How should parents react to violence being reported by the news media as their children are watching?

Brogan: Breaking news could raise the level of anxiety and concern unnecessarily. What is important to remember at all times is that children look to adults for their reactions. They are very attuned. If we abruptly say 'turn off the news,' they may think things are very bad. Instead, we should talk about the news with them. When breaking news is being reported, some details are often sketchy and some reporting may not be accurate. We should explain that and try to give some perspective. It is also an opportunity to teach children about reliable news sources and help them separate what is fact from what is opinion, since it can be difficult for them to distinguish between the two.

For older youngsters, it often helps if we guide their thinking. If parents and educators regularly discuss current events, then, when a tragic event occurs, they will be more accustomed to talking about it and will understand it better.

How should we explain why violence is occurring?

Brogan: Don't pretend to understand why violence is occurring. It's okay to say, 'Honestly I do not know why this is happening now.' But explain that it is clear that whoever carried out the violence are troubled individuals unable to think clearly about how to deal with their feelings and problems, that unfortunately they were unable to control their impulses or urges to hurt others. It's a time when you can explain that most people do not act that way and to try to make children understand the good things people do and how a community comes together to help one another during a tragedy and its aftermath.

What are some of the more recognizable warning signs from a child emotionally impacted by watching news reports or witnessing violence?

Brogan: In younger children, we may see some physical symptoms and signs of raised anxiety, such as stomach aches, changes in eating habits, nightmares. When children have trouble focusing, that could be a red flag that their thinking is going somewhere other than where it should be at the time. They may experience separation anxiety and want their parents not to leave them to go to work. Some become sad and withdrawn, some may refuse to attend school, and others worry excessively about someone they love becoming a victim. While a certain level of fear or anxiety is normal, if reactions are particularly strong and interfering with their normal lives, you may want to explore seeking professional help.

If events occur while children are at school, who can they rely on to discuss what is occurring?

Brogan: You should encourage children to develop a few "trusted adults," such as an extended family member, a coach, a maintenance worker, a teacher, a security guard - people whom they trust and who are responsible individuals. Many school systems have "trusted adults" programs so that children can talk to caring and trusted adults when troubling events occur. When children return home, it will be helpful to talk about what they discussed with their trusted adults. This creates a safety net to help in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

The Traumatic Coalitions for Youth encourages parents and educators to view additional helpful information provided by The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth and by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

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How to Talk with Kids About Traumatic Events

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Newswise - When terrible events, such as the terrorist events days ago in New York and New Jersey, following the attacks in Nice, France, and Orlando, Florida, occur, children and adolescents can become emotionally unsettled.

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Watching footage from Ukraine? Here’s how to protect your mental health.

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You don’t need to expose yourself to graphic and disturbing content just to stay informed.

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Posted on 03/10/22 12:53:pm

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Tips for how to talk with kids about the war in Ukraine

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In the video above, Dr. Amanda Heins, PsyD, supervising psychologist at Rogers Behavioral Health's OCD and Anxiety Center providing adolescent residential care in Oconomowoc, shares tips for how to help children navigate what they may be seeing or hearing about the war in Ukraine.