| Dealing With The Impact Of Secondary
Trauma On Adolescents In Residential Schools And Programs
May 21, 2014 By: Michael G.
Conner, Psy.D, Clinical, Medical & Family Psychologist In one violent traumatic moment the world of parents and their children became unpredictable, dangerous and frightening. The destruction of the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and four Passenger Airplanes has left a traumatic impression on America. The aftermath of this trauma is being felt in families, schools, entire cities and across the country. The psychological impact can be powerful and lasting for those who are directly involved and the rest of us who are watching. Parents are naturally concerned for their child�s physical and emotional well-being during times of crisis. They become worried and vulnerable to behavior motivated by separation and guilt. Residential boarding schools have unique abilities and responsibilities when facing the impact of a violent trauma event on a national and global scale. People respond differently after a crisis, a dangerous situation or a traumatic event. Everyone is changed and many are changed in ways they do not realize. This is especially true for children and adolescents. Some feel the brunt of the experience immediately. Others appear to be strong or even numb to their experience. Few recognize how a trauma can unconsciously influence their behavior. The teenager who is helping everyone else can end up the greatest unseen tragedy. Primary Trauma People who were involved or witnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the loss of life from an airplane crash experienced what is know as "primary trauma." This trauma usually includes police, fire and rescue service professionals but also the individuals in or near the area of a violent and traumatic event. The impact on these people can be tremendous. They can experience dramatic changes in their thinking, emotions, memory, concentration, energy and ability to participate in activities. Many become accident-prone, stop eating, can�t sleep, become impatient and moody. They feel unable to work or return to school. Secondary Trauma The rest of us experience what is called "secondary trauma." There can be traumatic effects from watching television, reading newspapers and magazines, listening to others and talking about it. Comforting and empathizing with each other and victims can have either a beneficial or a traumatic emotional impact. There can be mild to severe consequences when secondary trauma is powerful, repeated or long in duration. Examples of secondary trauma include but are not limited to,
Some Children Are More Vulnerable A report by the Surgeon General found that one out of 10 children, including teenagers, have serious emotional and psychological problems. Only one out of three of these kids receive appropriate care and treatment. Studies published by the National Institute of Mental Health suggest that as many as one out of five children have mild to moderate emotional and psychological problems that may result in further problems if they are exposed to prolonged or severe stress. This would include the stress associated with secondary trauma. Children who are at risk include and are not limited to
Stress resulting from a traumatic event and subsequent events is of concern. We should monitor children who are at risk and especially children who have a history of escaping and avoiding how they feel by isolating, skipping school, experimenting with alcohol and drugs, engaging in thrill seeking behavior, or taking their anger and frustration out on others Dealing With The Impact The impact of a traumatic experience doesn't end when people forget, nor does it simply end with the passage of time. Traumatizing a nation creates and perpetuates secondary trauma through media exposure, our government�s response, economic and social impacts, and the changing relationships between children, parents and teachers. Appreciating the breadth of this trauma is not easy. We are not only grieving, but many of us are pondering the possibility of biological warfare and other acts of terrorism. It may not be over for many years or decades. Summarily deciding it is time to get over it is naive. On the other hand, raising the awareness of these threats can produce a high level of stress without conceptual and emotional skills to manage it. Some children are not developmentally ready to internalize the full meaning of what this country is facing. There are clues that schools and programs should consider and be alert to recognize. Changes in behavior � primarily overreactions and under reactions are good signs that a child has been impacted and may need help. (For detailed information on traumatic incident stress see the handouts available at www.CrisisCounseling.Com) Benefits of A Residential Programs I believe the behavioral changes associated with primary and secondary trauma following a violent traumatic event will happen regardless of whether a teenager is enrolled in a residential boarding school or in their own home. There is every reason to believe that children will "weather" this trauma better in a structured environment than they might back with their families. Boarding schools and especially intervention and therapeutic programs can offer structure, support and guidance at a much higher level than many families and public schools. Structure and guidance are recognized key components in any traumatic incident stress treatment response. Suggestions For Programs Teenagers can have a particularly difficult time controlling the source of stress during a trauma of national and global proportions. For this reason, a boarding school has definite advantages and responsibilities. There are interventions that will help. Many of these are already part of most programs.
There also things that programs can do that will create a structure and container capable of guiding children past these emotionally challenging times. But keep in mind that It is enough to be a decent American and for children to show pride in who we are as a country. Children should not feel bad because they can�t give blood
Summary More than anything, programs, staff and adolescents need to restore balance to their lives. This is no time to become obsessed with what happened � especially if responsibilities to students, work or relationships suffer. Repeated and prolonged exposure to violent and traumatic images as well as written and verbal content can become depressing, create anxiety or produce a callous insensitivity. The greatest challenge may be to recognize the emotional impact that this traumatic event is having on you. Copyright 2000 to 2001, Michael G. Conner |