As heavy media coverage marks the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers resources to help people deal with the potential development of mental disorders in young people affected by violence.
Chronic and persistent exposure to such violence can lead to fear and numbing while some children can become more aggressive and violent, the group said. Parents and teachers should be encouraged to limit exposure to disturbing images for children and themselves and should not dismiss a child’s fears, the experts recommend. Parents also should look for signs of severe anxiety so they can intervene early to prevent complications.
AACAP’s Facts for Families provide information on how to talk to children about terrorism, help children after a disaster and cope with post traumatic stress disorder or anxiety. These resources are a place to begin in addressing the trauma that affects victims of violence. In some cases, children and others may require more intensive treatment such as one-on-one counseling.
The resources were created for those coping with loss and grief, and for those who want to talk to their children about major news events.
- Anxiety Disorders Resource Center
- Talking to Children about Terrorism and War
- Helping Children After a Disaster
- Children and the News
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Panic Disorder in Children and Adolescents
AACAP Members research, diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents and their families. For more information visit www.aacap.org.