In the wake of the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, mental health professionals and educational councils across Canada are coming forward with resources to support children and adolescents who find themselves increasingly anxious and disturbed. They are also providing helpful advice for parents on appropriate ways to discuss this grave matter.
In a message delivered to parents and caregivers, the Toronto District School Board has acknowledged the reality that many are heavily impacted by the hostilities, including students of Jewish, Palestinian, and Israeli heritage.
The board aptly recognizes that the distressing visuals of war affect students in varying measures and that some children or teens may require additional support. They recommend initiating the conversation with open-ended questions, seeking to understand the child’s feelings rather than presupposing fear or anxiety.
Kids Help Phone, a national helpline dedicated to children and youth, emphasizes the importance of setting aside dedicated time for children to discuss the alarming news and social media posts they might come across. They encourage parents to aid their children in limiting exposure to disturbing content and provide them the necessary tools to manage and cope when they do confront such harrowing imagery.
The organization further states that children may not articulate their worries regarding the conflict directly, but the anxieties concerning war can provoke other underlying fears and concerns. It is crucial to understand that children may not want to confide in their parents immediately – a situation in which they should be comforted with the knowledge that there are alternative outlets for their feelings, such as other trusted adults or support services like the Kids Help Phone.
