The effects of earthquakes, which caused serious destruction in 10 provinces centered in Kahramanmaraş, continue.
Earthquakes, which caused psychological destruction throughout Turkey, caused serious trauma especially to earthquake victims.
The psychological destruction experienced by our offspring, who witnessed the earthquake, lost their family, and faced post-disaster difficulties, also became a matter of emergency response.
In particular, the pedagogical rehabilitation of children orphaned and orphaned as a result of earthquakes is of great importance.
Specialist Pedagogue İnci Aydın, speaking to the Milli Gazete, drew attention to the psychological first aid to be given to our children after earthquakes.
“WE HAVE A DIFFICULT PROCESS AHEAD”
Pointing out that the children affected by the earthquake process are still in shock, Expert Pedagogue İnci Aydın said, "Earthquake survivors cannot make sense of what is going on or they want to see their old order. Therefore, we have a difficult process ahead of us. Children's post-earthquake age, developmental period and individual psychological differences will affect this process. Infants may experience an increase in moodiness and crying spells. In kindergarten children, problems such as bedwetting, stool incontinence, nail biting, and stubbornness may occur. In primary school children, the process gets a little more difficult. We observe various results in our puppies in this age group, such as fear, an increase in sad situations, an increase in fear of even the smallest things. In adolescence, communication with the family is already difficult, and in adolescents, arguments, increase in fights, and asociality may occur. In general, there may be an increase in situations such as anxiety, fear, unhappiness, introversion or excessive anger in disaster-stricken children."
“PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID”
İnci Aydın emphasized the importance of psychological first aid.
"In the psychological first aid process, it is very important for the child to feel understood by people with whom he or she is in contact, such as family, relatives, government officials. The child needs to tell about his inner world. While the child will tell about his fear and anxiety about the earthquake, sometimes families can change the subject with good intentions. However, this is not healthy and correct. Listen, don't silence or distract, even if the child tells them repeatedly. The child about the earthquake may want to play games, may want to paint. Help the child overcome the anxiety and fear in his inner world through games and pictures about the earthquake," she said.
“DISASTERS NEED TO BE TOLD TO CHILDREN”
İnci Aydın also mentioned the psychological recovery process.
"Although these symptoms are present in the first month after the disaster, which is an acute stress period, we expect a gradual return to normal one month after the earthquake. If the child does not return to normal, if the process such as intense fear, anxiety, stress, behavioral disorders, depressive mood, sleep disorder, psychosomatic disorders continues after a month, then professional support should be sought. At least 1 month should pass for the evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder. Children who lost their relatives in the earthquake should also receive expert support. Finally, it should not be forgotten; Disasters such as earthquakes, floods and fires should be told to children without frightening or panicking, in accordance with the age of the children, without natural disasters. It can help to explain natural disasters with fairy tales, games and pictures," she added.