Children’s Mental Health Following the North Mississippi Tornadoes
The recent tornadoes that devastated Delta and Northeast Mississippi communities several months ago – including places such as Amory, and other parts of Monroe County – have left many families with communities that have been partially changed for some time to come.
During times like these, children are usually pretty tough. They’re capable of rolling with the changes and overcoming quite a bit, but it’s important for parents to be aware of the unique needs of kids during times of stress. Parents should be alert to changes in a child that might show he or she is still struggling, and having a hard time adjusting to the “new normal.”
While the immediate needs of most affected families for shelter, food, and basic necessities have been taken care of at this point, the effects of these changes – and quite simply, fearfulness over what they experienced or fear that it might happen again – can linger in kids. Even if a family wasn’t directly affected, it’s sometimes an issue for all in that town or city.
We turned to author, pediatrician, mother of two, childhood cancer survivor and Harvard and Columbia-trained child advocate Dr. Kelly Fradin, to see if she had advice for local families. Since one of her goals is to help bring health resources to under-served people, she is uniquely able to comment on what has happened to northern Mississippi families, many of whom live below the poverty line and already faced daily challenges even prior to the tornadoes.
“I am so sorry to hear about this hardship in your community,” Dr. Fradin said. “When this happens, I do think it’s essential for parents to cope with the stress, too. I would also acknowledge that while many parents are scared to let their children know when they are sad or grieving, sharing that grief with your child is a kind of connection that can help both parents and child.”
She said mental health is very important at times like these, and there is certainly help out there to be had for struggling families.
“I do think after a disaster like this, we should find ways to get resources to support children’s mental health to them [children and parents],” Dr. Fradin said. She suggested looking into the website of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network at Nctsn.org, and the info provided on child trauma by the Sesame Workshop at Sesameworkshop.org/resources/give-yourself-a-hug-3/
“If I could summarize my approach, I would encourage parents to stay connected with their child; see, validate and welcome their feelings; and seek opportunities to provide children with hope and agency,” Dr. Fradin suggested.
“While you might be dealing with a major loss,” she continued, “we know that you will feel better with time and you are not alone in feeling such hardship. After an unpredictable loss, children and adults also feel safer when they feel they have control over their surroundings. Engaging in projects, even as simple as writing a card with condolences, can help us to work through feelings of sadness.
Dealing with childhood trauma, loss, sickness and disability is explored more deeply in Dr. Fradin’s recently-released book, “Advanced Parenting: Advice for Helping Kids Through Diagnoses, Differences, and Mental Health Challenges.”
In the meantime, parents should remember that even weeks and months later, fully re-adjusting takes time. If your child is struggling, however, to come to terms with recent changes to family, home, school and community in a way that seems to be an emergency, do not hesitate; seek advice as soon as possible from your child’s physician, school counselor, or a mental health professional.
