DO YOU CARE FOR A CHILD WHO HAS HAD A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE? CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM HEAL.

WHAT IS CHILDHOOD TRAUMA?

A trauma occurs when a child feels intensely threatened, scared or shaken up by an event that happens to the child or to a loved one, while experiencing feelings of helplessness and loss of control. Whether it’s an emotional trauma or psychological trauma (ex: losing a loved one) or a physical trauma (ex: physical abuse), the event creates stress and erodes the child’s sense of stability. The traumatic event may be dangerous, scary or violent, and could threaten the child’s physical safety or life—or it may be less dramatic but still impactful to the child. These experiences can produce physical, psychological and emotional reactions that last a lifetime.

We all encounter difficulties and stressors from time to time, but note that traumatic responses interfere with daily life, impact the ability to function and affect interactions with others.

Children may exhibit signs of traumatic stress if they endure experiences like:

• Physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse (including human trafficking)
• Abandonment, neglect or disorganized attachment
• Domestic violence
• Violence in the child’s community (like school shootings or even mass casualty events in the news)
• Loss of a loved one
• Change in caregivers
• Serious accidents (like car accidents)
• Medical diagnoses, events and life-threatening illnesses
• Natural disasters (like hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis)
• Exposure to substance abuse (self or other)
• War, terrorism and refugee experiences (including torture)
• Military-related incidents or stress (like deployment of a parent)
• Absent parent (like single parenting)
• Bullying
• Major life changes (like divorce or moving)

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT SIGNS OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA

Trauma is universal. Children across the globe are susceptible to trauma—but various factors shape the experience and understanding of these events (ex: cultural contexts; past experiences; and neurobiological, individual and internal coping mechanisms).

A traumatic experience changes the brain. Undergoing a traumatic event puts a child’s brain in survival mode and affects the nervous system. After the event subsides, these systems may return to their normal functioning. But if a child is deeply traumatized, the brain can remain in a state of constant high alert. Another impact could the development of PTSD in children.

Unresolved trauma can have lasting effects on the brain and body. Not only can traumatic stress lead a person to engage in high-risk behaviors (ex: substance abuse, smoking or eating disorders), but research indicates that survivors of child trauma can be more likely to suffer long-term health issues (ex: heart disease or diabetes) or to die prematurely. Child trauma can also interfere with relationships and bonding, and survivors exhibit a higher use of mental health and other health services, as well as a greater level of involvement with the juvenile justice and child welfare systems (NCTSN.org).

Traumatic stress can even impact future generations. What a child experiences in the first years of life tends to resurface as new behaviors in adolescence (ex: malaise) and continues to manifest into adulthood. An adult who has not adequately resolved their own childhood trauma may have trouble maintaining employment and building relationships, and may be ill-equipped to support their own children’s development. This serves to keep the trauma alive into the next generation.

HEALING CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AROUND THE WORLD

Whenever possible, we encourage biological families to build connections and stay together. That’s why we support familial relationships through our family strengthening programs. We’re even committed to helping extended families who take in child relatives.

But for many children, living with their biological family simply isn’t possible. Their parents may pass away, abandon them or be otherwise unable to provide care—and a child suddenly finds themselves all alone. 

For instance, when children are forced to flee their countries, they not only require support for their physical needs, like food, clothing and shelter, but also for their emotional needs. For refugee children, the stress from running for their lives and the tragic loss of their families can take an irreparable toll.?

That’s where SOS comes in. Treating the impact of conflict, hatred and loss of parental care takes dedication and a long-term commitment. SOS Children’s Villages employs experts in child care and mental health, and we ensure thorough and proper training of staff who work directly with children. Through specialized trauma recovery techniques, we empower these children to rebuild their futures, step by step. Our counselors provide psychological support to help children cope with their anguish and grow up stronger.

Among our experts on staff is Teresa Ngigi, who trains the mental health and psychological and social support team for SOS Children’s Villages Syria, and provides support for Syrian children in SOS care. A licensed psychologist, she has also trained mental health specialists at SOS Children’s Villages in Sierra Leone and Somalia, and was part of the emergency team that responded to the devastating landslide near Freetown, Sierra Leone in August 2017.

“Almost all of the children in our care have experienced toxic stress in one way or another,” explains Ms. Ngigi. “Many have suffered the consequences of war, hatred and disaster, and all have suffered some form of abandonment. Sometimes some of these children are quite hyperactive… characterized by a lot of aggression. That is especially evident with the boys.”

In all 135 countries in which SOS operates, we are highly sensitive to the past traumas of the children in our care. The following examples represent just a handful of programs and services that we provide to help children heal.