Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
By:
Victoria Lichtenberg
MegAnn Smith
Shannon Firestone
Angela O'neill
Amanda González
Implication of the Issues
- Children that live in poverty, which in many cases are the children learning a second language, are at a higher risk for PTSD, as the violence rate is higher in those areas
- "Latinos are at high risk of exposure to community violence.” (Gudiño & Rindlaub, 2014)
- Many Latino immigrant worker children have gotten trauma-related depression and/or PTSD
- PTSD is common in refugees and non-refugee immigrants who have left their countries to escape socio-political turmoil
References:
Conclusion
References (Cont'd):
- Gudiño, O., & Rindlaub, L. (2014). Psychometric Properties of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale in Latino Children. Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 27(1), 27-34
- Kataoka, S., Stein, B., Jaycox, L., Wong, M., Escudero, P., & Tu, W. et al. (2003). A School-Based Mental Health Program for Traumatized Latino Immigrant Children. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(3), 311-318
- Klein, M., & Chen, D. (2001). Building a Relationship with Families. In Working with children from culturally diverse backgrounds (pp. 51-53). Albany, New York: Delmar Thomson Learning.
- Robertson, K. & Breiseth, L. (2009). How to Support Refugee Students in the ELL Classroom. ¡Colorín Colorado!. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/how-support-refugee-students-ell-classroom
- (2007). Children's Mental Health Disorder Fact Sheet for the Classroom. School Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/Resources/Educ/MHClassroomFactSheet.pdf
- (2015). PTSD. Total Life Counseling. Retrieved from http://www.totallifecounseling.com/services-therapy-orlando-florida-clermont-east-southwest-therapy-therapists-counselors/ptsd/
- (2015). PTSD: National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/ptsd-children-adolescents.asp
- (2015). Trauma and PTSD Treatment Centers in Florida (FL): Post-traumatic Stress. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://treatment.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?state=FL&spec=19
- (2015). Trauma/PTSD. Ocean Resource Net. http://www.oceanresourcenet.org/search/category/main/mental-health/trauma-ptsd/
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition where any child that is experiencing it may feel a loss of hope. However, as early childhood professionals, it is our responsibility to facilitate the child's school environment and ensure his or her well-being.
Summary
Ideas to Educate other Professionals
Suggestions for Interactions
Resources
- The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs - National Center for PTSD
- Psychology Today - Trauma and PTSD treatment centers in Florida
- Total Life Counseling - Anxiety treatment and anxiety therapy in 4 locations
- Bilingüal Youth Therapeutic Services
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is most commonly associated with war veterans, but can occur to people of all ages
- The symptoms of PTSD includes: experiencing a trauma, fear of strangers, leaving parents, having sleep problems, repeat themes of trauma in play, behavior becomes more fussy, irritable, aggressive or reckless, and children may lose a skill they have already mastered (Ex. potty training)
- Diagnosing a child with PTSD is extremely difficult because a child cannot really explain to you the specific emotions that are needed to diagnose someone with PTSD
- The DSM-5 diagnosis criteria is being exposed to a traumatic event that meets a specific criteria
- Do not tell a child to forget about the incident
- Reassure children that their symptoms and behaviors are a common response to a trauma and that they are not "crazy" or bad
- Help students and families find resources they need
- Get to know the families by having regular meetings
- Integrate the students' cultural and country information into weekly classroom routines
- Increase exposure to language
- Ask the family about what they expect and would like for their child in your program
Strategies to Assist a Child with PTSD
Suggestions for Modifications
- Try to establish a feeling of safety and acceptance within the classroom
- Avoid circumstances that are upsetting or re-traumatizing for the child
- Provide a persistent, predictable routine through each day
- Eliminate stressful situations from your classroom and routines
- Incorporate large muscle activities, or allow the student to take short breaks for physical movement
- Do not hesitate to interrupt activities that may be upsetting for him/her