Transcript Session 4
SESSION 4
Impact of refugee trauma
on children and young
people
Understanding refugee
students’ reaction to the
refugee experience
As well as the experiences common to us all,
refugees also react to their pre-arrival experience.
All these conditions can affect their behaviour as
students.
These are normal reactions to abnormal
situations.
Working with refugee students
who have experienced trauma
•Don’t underestimate their strength
•They are resilient, but in need of support
•Recognise the importance of school
in providing support
Some of the indicators of
refugee trauma are:
Thinking a lot about experiences of violence
Feeling ill and having unexplained pain
Difficulty sleeping
Lack of concentration and interest
Shattered assumptions about human existence
Helplessness and loss of control
Irritability and aggression
Some of the indicators of
refugee trauma are:
Lack of confidence and trust, especially with authority
figures
Problems with attachment and bonding
Anxiety – feeling afraid
Depression – feeling sad
Survivor guilt
Heightened sense of responsibility
Difficulty having ‘fun’
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Symptoms in preschool-age children
Anxious attachment
Regression
Thematic play
Traumatic dreams and nightmares
Obsessive telling of story
Withdrawn
Mutism
Illness or tiredness
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Symptoms in school-aged children
Elaborate re-enactments of trauma
Moodiness
Aggressive and bossy behaviour
Decline in school or work tasks
Perfectionism in tasks and performance
Continual and/or obsessive talking
Psychosomatic complaints
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Symptoms in adolescents
withdrawn
compliance
anger and rebellion
acting out behaviours
disobeying rules
drug taking
inappropriate sexual activity
vandalism
extremes in risk taking behaviour
pre-occupation with self
Supporting refugee students
and their families
Key Points to remember:
•The importance of family well-being
•Supporting parents and families
•The importance of school