As children return to school this week, Psychologist and disaster mental health expert, Dr Sarb Johal explains how to best support them following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Children light candles at a vigil in Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
Dr Johal is an expert in disaster mental health and in particular, helping children in the aftermath of tragedies.
He says while we cannot control the events that have occurred, we can choose our exposure to them, and many parents will have done this over the weekend. However once children are back at school, their world expands again, and they are likely to be exposed to more information and images from the Christchurch terror attacks.
Psychologist Sarb Johal Photo: Supplied
He suggests parents and caregivers regularly check in with young people throughout the week, allowing an opportunity for children to share their fears and also check if they have been exposed to any misinformation.
As well as giving clear information about what actually happened, he says it is really important to focus on the helpers, those who rushed to assist, from by-standers to medical and emergency professionals.
"We have a duty to make sure that we present a world that isn't torn apart, this is a terrible terrible event, a horrific event but in the broader context of things we need to remember that there are many people working now, working at the time and will be working in the future to help assist and protect people going about their every day lives, so point them out."
