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Children can have reactions to any demanding and stressful circumstance
such as death, illness, natural disaster, robbery, crisis or trauma.
You can help them cope with their reactions. Your genuine support
can help return the child’s emotional state back to normal.
Here are some support strategies you may choose to try:
| Answer questions
simply and honestly
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Give responsible
reassurances |
| Do
not make promises you can’t keep |
Provide physical
comfort |
| Help child identify,
name and express feelings |
Permit time-limited
regressive behaviors |
| Encourage the grief
process for any loss including loss of pet or a residential
change. |
Reduce exposure
to media that reenacts traumatic events (i.e. natural disaster,
terrorist attack) |
| Encourage physical
play |
Encourage
drawing. Often children cannot put words to their feelings,
but can draw a representation of them |
| Pay special attention to teenagers.
They may not show their need |
Do not minimize teenager’s
response |
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If the child’s responses continue
for several weeks and do not diminish over time it is important
that you seek consultation from a physician or a counselor.
Within
King County, Washington, you can anonymously and confidentially
talk with a professionally trained volunteer about the situation
and obtain a referral to a mental health counselor by contacting
the24-Hour Crisis Line at 206.461.3222, toll free at 866.4CRISIS
or via our TDD line at 206.461.3219.
Outside of King County, please
call 9-1-1 and ask to be connected to your local crisis help line
or call 1.800.SUICIDE.
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