As the war in Ukraine escalates, so people鈥檚 levels of stress, anxiety, and distress around the conflict will increase, particularly in children.

It can be scary for children reading about the conflict online, or hearing about it in the media or in the playground.

And for parents, grandparents and guardians, it can be difficult to know how to respond to their questions and concerns.

Jo Holmes, our Children, Young People and Families Lead, says the conflict comes after a difficult two years for children and young people, and that there are parallels between the conflict in Ukraine and COVID.

Fear and uncertainty

鈥淔ear and uncertainty, resulting 聽in high levels of anxiety, has very much been at the forefront for the last two years,鈥� says Jo.

鈥淣ow added to COVID is the fear of war. It鈥檚 around us on every news channel. Conversations are taking place at school, at home, and there鈥檚 huge coverage online.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gone from experiencing one major life-changing event to hearing about another, with death and loss being a central theme. There鈥檚 almost a parallel of something starting far away but creeping closer.鈥�

Some of our members have said that some children are struggling to say words such as 鈥渨ar鈥� and 鈥渘uclear deterrent鈥� for fear it would bring it to reality.

Our member , who works with children and young people, says many students have returned to the classroom from half-term anxious about the war.

Advice

Pete offers advice for parents and guardians to support children.

鈥淢any people have the TV or radio on at home in the background, but be aware children are exposed to news bulletins and images that can disturb them,鈥� he says. 鈥淏e aware of the times that inappropriate content may be broadcast.

鈥淲hen a child expresses their worries and anxieties, listen intently to them and help them to talk about feelings. Maybe have a feelings chart so that they can find the appropriate word if they don鈥檛 have the vocabulary yet.

鈥淒on鈥檛 just brush it off with comments to make you feel better.聽

鈥淗ave a united front if you鈥檙e parenting together. Model that you鈥檙e able to express your feelings too but that you have control over them.

鈥淚f appropriate explain about the role of the media and how they can create headlines that are designed to catch our attention.

Hold the hope

鈥淎nd hold the hope. They鈥檙e watching you.鈥�

Jo says it鈥檚 perfectly normal for children 鈥� and for adults 鈥� to feel upset by the conflict.

鈥淚t鈥檚 okay to have those feelings,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not alone.

鈥淗ow do we support our children and young people through this?

鈥淏y listening. By having those difficult conversations. By hearing about what a child is worried about and asking them how they鈥檙e feeling. And by acknowledging our own uncertainties too.鈥�

Jo says that the 24-hour nature of news coverage can feed into anxieties.

She says: 鈥淲e do need to have the option of turning the news off, of taking a walk, of getting some fresh air and being mindful of our own self-care and that of the children and young people around us.

鈥淐ounselling can help with all of this. Having that opportunity to explore and face any fears or worries within a safe and child-focused way.

鈥淲e know the earlier we talk about our worries, the better we鈥檙e able to process and manage them.鈥�

To find a 香港六合彩精准资料-registered counsellor or psychotherapist, visit our聽Therapist Directory.