Information Manual 3: Tsunami psychosocial care for children

A disaster like the tsunami disrupts the process of interaction the child has with his/her environment. It leads to displacement wherein the child loses his familiar environment (home, school, peers, etc). There is a sense of panic and confusion and the caregivers are unable to care for the child or not around for sometime; and thus the regular life patterns are disrupted. There can be instances of death of both the parents, or one of the parents or sibling(s) or even a pet, leaving the child with a sense of loss. The child might find it extremely difficult to cope with loss. Disasters hamper the process of healthy emotional and psychological development.

This manual attempts to enable caregivers (parents, teachers and other adults such as Anganwadi workers, PRI members, ANMs etc.) to:

• Understand the impact of the tsunami on children.
• Understand the emotional reaction that the children would be experiencing as a result of the trauma.
• Understand how recovery can be facilitated in children so that they regain their sense of well being.
• Understand the needs of the children who may require additional care to recover and come back to normalcy