How traumatic/violent situations can impact your child
With recent incidents of protests outside schools both locally and nationally, Review spoke to Clinical Psychologist Lebogang Acedede-Selahle on how trauma can affect children mentally and emotionally.
POLOKWANE – Recently, the EFF caused upheaval at a local school last Tuesday, 15 January, disrupting classes and causing teachers to lock themselves and the learners in their classes.
While a spokesperson for the EFF rejected allegations of their members spreading terror among the learners, a teacher was overheard telling someone how the EFF members banged against their classroom windows and how they locked themselves in their classes.
Read more: [WATCH] EFF cause upheaval at Polokwane school
With that in mind, Review asked Lebogang how a school learner can be affected by a situation as mentioned above.
“Young children are especially vulnerable to psychological problems because they do not have as complex and realistic a view of themselves and their world yet. They have less self-understanding and they have not yet developed a stable sense of identity or a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what resources they might have to deal with this kind of a situation or the problem,” she said.
She adds that children are more dependent on adults (teachers, guardians and/ or parents), therefore, violet situations within their territory makes the child highly vulnerable to experiences of rejection, disappointment, anxiety, and insecurity. “Their perspectives and their lack of experience in dealing with adversity can make manageable problems seems insurmountable,” Acedede-Selahle added.
Review also had the following questions:
• How can children overcome such violent incidents if they come across them?
“Immediate psychological intervention in a form of diffuse and debrief is of paramount importance. This should take place within 72 hours after the violent action. In a case where children did not receive Psychological Immediate Intervention, they could still benefit from psychotherapy.”
• Where can children get professional help?
“Psychological treatments and interventions can be accessed at the public hospital and private facilities.”
• How can counselling benefit them?
“Psychological treatments (counselling) will assist children to release emotions associated with past violent scenes, resulting in less resentment and more feeling of security, resolve past issues leading to less anger, greater self-esteem and confidence.”
