Trauma Resource Submenu:

• After A Stressful Incident
• Child Trauma Guide 0-1 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 1-3 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 3-5 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 5-7 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 7-9 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 9-12 Years
• Child Trauma Guide 12-18 Years

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Child development and trauma guide

12 - 18 years

 

Parent/carer support following trauma

Encourage parents(s)/carers to:

• Seek, accept and increase support for themselves to manage their own shock and emotional responses
• Remain calm – Encourage younger and older adolescents to talk about traumatic event with family members
• Provide opportunities for young people to spend time with friends who are supportive and meaningful
• Reassure young people that strong feelings – whether of guilt, shame, embarrassment, or wish for revenge – are normal following a trauma
• Help young people find activities that offer opportunities to experience mastery, control and self-esteem
• Encourage pleasurable physical activities such as sports and dancing
• Monitor young people coping at home, school, and in peer groups
• Address acting-out behaviour involving aggression or self-destructive behaviour quickly and firmly with limit setting and professional help
• Take signs of depression, self harm, accident proneness, recklessness, and persistent personality change seriously by seeking help
• Help young people develop a sense of perspective on the impact of the traumatic event and a sense of the importance of time in recovering
• Encourage delaying big decisions
• Seek information/advice about young person’s developmental and educational progress
• Provide the young person with frequent high protein snacks/meals during the day
• Take time to recharge

Adapted from State Government Victoria Department of Human Services, June 2008