Child Psycholigist offers Post-trauma Support

During a recent visit to Grand Cayman, Child Psychologist Dr Jerome Brodlie visited a number of schools and learning centres, spending time with students and discussing their hurricane experiences.

He also met with school counsellors, private and pre-school teachers, as well as parents, offering advice on how children behave in post-traumatic situations, and guidance on helping them.

Accompanied by Acting Chief Inspector of Schools Helena McVeigh and Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education Mary Rodrigues, Dr Brodlie visited Elmslie Learning Centre in George Town, North Side Primary School which is temporarily housed in the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, East End Primary School Learning Centre and the recently opened Bodden Town Primary School.

Dr Brodlie spoke with students about how they were feeling after the storm, focusing on how their parents and houses had fared and whether they had any specific hurricane worries.

Many children said they didn’t miss things like television but were worried that Ivan would return or saddened by pets they had lost. Dr Brodlie said: “With younger children especially, it is better to tell them honestly what happened to their pets. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.”

He felt that some of the younger children were demonstrating regressive behaviour, such as sleeping in their parents’ bed. “In some cases, this may result from increased anxiety or a change in home environment,” Dr Brodlie said, “but as soon as the home is stable or back to pre-hurricane conditions, they should be encouraged to return to their own rooms.”

Some students discussed how they were missing friends who were now at other schools on the island or had gone overseas to study. Dr Brodlie explained that the absence of friends could often create a shift in alliance towards the family. However, if the family is emotionally fragile, as many are at this time, then this could create a problem for youngsters. “This is a time when teachers can play a much needed supportive role. School has an important function here as it allows a return to normality for children, especially if their home-life isn’t back to normal yet.”

Dr Brodlie advised that, two months after Ivan, it is now advisable to stay away from the topic of the hurricane, unless children still seem particularly affected or mention it themselves.

On the whole, Dr Brodlie felt that it was too early to offer a diagnosis on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, as symptoms like sleeping disorders or flashbacks can take months to manifest. But, if a child is behaving differently to how he/she did before the hurricane, perhaps being withdrawn when they are normally outgoing, or showing signs of more disruptive behaviour, then it may be necessary to seek counselling.

However, Dr Brodlie said that children who were present during the storm will benefit from the experience; “It teaches them strength and vital coping skills, helping them deal with fears and develop resiliency in later life.”

Dr Brodlie also recommended that adults slow down, saying, “Getting the country back into shape should be a marathon, not a sprint. There is a lot of guilt involved in not constantly undertaking recovery projects, but adults and children need comforting and relaxing times to recover from this experience.”

An eminent child psychologist, Dr Jerome Brodlie is Professor Emeritis at Yale and Connecticut State University and has also been one of the correspondents on childhood issues for the CBS Network.