Leadership

When Disaster Strikes

What can schools do to help young people who have suffered trauma? Justine Wilson-Darke, Senior Operations Manager, Children & Young People Service for London explains.
Scared child with mother

Schools are well versed in helping support young people through a wide range of issues from abuse through to eating disorders, bereavement and bullying.  

However, in the past few months we’ve all become acutely aware of another sadly increasingly frequent need – that of supporting young people in the aftermath of traumatic events such as the ones we have recently witnessed at Grenfell Tower, Manchester Arena and London Bridge.

Unsurprisingly teachers, youth leaders and others supporting young people through events that few adults can imagine can feel thrown by finding themselves called upon for help.  

In the aftermath of the Manchester Attack a quarter of the calls we received were made directly by children or by those concerned about how best to support children.  All of the children calling were seeking support because they had been deeply psychologically affected, with common issues being struggling to sleep, flashbacks, panic attacks and fear of being alone.  

So how can teachers best respond to those needing their support?  

The most important thing to do is to stress that help is out there. At Victim Support specially trained case-workers provide emotional and practical support to anyone that needs it.  Our support is free and confidential and we are there for as long as someone needs us. 

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