There are a number of pragmatic approaches that are likely to be helpful for infants, children and young people after a traumatic event. Key is the presence of a safe, predictable and regulated adult.
Re-establishing routines around mealtimes and sleeping can be reassuring and provide a sense of stability and safety to a young person. Encouraging social connections within family members and the extended family is important, as well as keeping connected to religious communities, school communities and youth groups.
It is helpful to adopt an approach of active listening to a child or young person and to value a young person’s cultural identity as part of the healing process.
A period of “active monitoring” in the first month may be appropriate to see if symptoms naturally improve and to allow professionals to target those children and young people with impairing traumatic symptoms to access targeted support.