Supporting children in the long term after a disaster or traumatic event

Emerging Minds and ANU, Australia, 2018

Related to Disasters, Responding to traumatic events, Trauma, Bereavement, loss and grief

Resource Summary

It can take many months and even years for families and communities to find a ‘new normal’ after a disaster or traumatic event. Children especially need adults in their lives to help them when memories of the disaster, or big feelings like sadness or anger, come up for them, and they may display a variety of behaviours for a long time after the event. This video offers practical tips for supporting children in the long term after a disaster.

Discover more resources

Video

Children in the long term after a disaster or traumatic event

Emerging Minds

This video discusses some of the ways disaster can affect children’s long-term development and behaviours.
Short article

How educators can support children in the longer term following a disaster or community trauma

Emerging Minds

Children require support in the months (and sometimes even years) after a disaster or traumatic event. While most children recover over time, some continue to experience ongoing difficulties.
Short article

A general practitioner’s guide to supporting children’s mental health in the long term following a disaster or traumatic event

Emerging Minds

Family doctors are well placed to monitor children’s social and emotional wellbeing and mental health. Following a disaster or traumatic event general practitioners become even more critical in providing regular checks, support and advice to both children and their parents.
Short article

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

Melissa Willoughby and Joanna Schwarzman, Australian Institute of Family Studies

This short article describes the research evidence on individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing.
Webinar

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Emerging Minds and Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN)

This webinar, co-produced by the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN), our panel of experts explore ways to support infants and children following a disaster.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This October 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Webinar

Relationships matter: Walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents

Child Family Community Australia & Emerging Minds

This webinar with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) explores ways that practitioners can build a deeper connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This September 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Why we need to support infants and children before, during and after disasters

Emerging Minds

Infants and children rely on the adults around them to meet their needs, keep them safe and help them to make sense of their world. This puts them at greater risk of adverse impacts when a disaster occurs. This practice paper introduces the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support children and families at all stages of a disaster (preparedness, response and recovery).
Practice paper

Disaster preparedness with a focus on infants, children and families

Emerging Minds

This practice paper is designed to help you understand the importance of disaster preparedness for not only increasing safety and protecting lives when a disaster occurs, but facilitating the recovery of individuals, families and communities. It also offers practical advice for supporting the disaster preparedness of the children and families you work with.
Practice paper

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Emerging Minds

This practice paper aims to equip practitioners with knowledge about the ways disasters can influence a child’s ecology and the importance of targeted support for children’s resilience and recovery in the short and long term.
Practice paper

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

Emerging Minds

This practice paper explains why it’s important to consider pregnant people, infants, children and families in evacuation planning and management. It provides practical considerations and strategies for ensuring evacuation procedures and centres meet the needs of infants, children and families and enhance their safety, wellbeing and recovery.

This resource is part of the following toolkits

Community Trauma Toolkit

304 Resources
Toolkit Sections:

Supporting children in the long term after a disaster or traumatic event

Emerging Minds and ANU, Australia, 2018

Resource Summary

Discover more resources

Children in the long term after a disaster or traumatic event

How educators can support children in the longer term following a disaster or community trauma

A general practitioner’s guide to supporting children’s mental health in the long term following a disaster or traumatic event

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Relationships matter: Walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Why we need to support infants and children before, during and after disasters

Disaster preparedness with a focus on infants, children and families

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

This resource is part of the following toolkits

Community Trauma Toolkit

Toolkit Sections:

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