Supporting young people to reduce increased risk of trauma

This is in part due to the lack of preparation from services that would normally be there to help children face the challenges they are presented with, but also because this pandemic is not going to end soon or in a simple manner. Unfortunately, we are going to see significant increases in mood disorders and in trauma functioning amongst children and young people during and after this period.

Currently the conditions exist for a very significant rise in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the population but especially in children and young people. We are all living with the sight of possible death of self or loved ones and being fed a daily diet of high numbers of people who have died. And although thankfully the numbers dying may be levelling and falling, we are still being told very clearly they could rise, and we must remain vigilant. This produces stress as does the conditions we are being asked to live in, social distancing, disconnection from our usual support systems, disruption of our normal and fears of economic collapse etc. These conditions of high stress and fear of death are the environmental stressors that can lead to PTSD.