Beyond the pandemic: Strategic priorities for responding to childhood trauma, UK Trauma Council

The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on children and young people ' s lives. It has increased the experience of trauma for many, and compromised the support which children and young people receive from friends, family and public services. The UK Trauma Council considers that without a specific focus and sustained energy from Governments across the UK, the needs of many children and young people will go unmet – with long-term negative consequences for their lives. The focus should now be on understanding the impact of trauma on children ' s development and wellbeing, and responding appropriately. Trauma refers to the way that some events, and experiences, are so extreme that they overwhelm a child ' s ability to cope. The impact can have lasting consequences for the child or young person ' s development, including psychological, behavioural and emotional problems. These can occur into and throughout adulthood, presenting related challenges in many aspects of their life. As the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic unfold, the UK Trauma Council has developed four recommendations that should be prioritised by all UK Governments to address childhood trauma in both the short and long term. These recommendations present a clear framework for action, to be taken forward in different ways across the UK.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news