How to Protect Children’s Mental Health During Wartime?
When we speak
of war, attention usually turns to casualty figures, images of destruction, and
the material losses left in the wake of fighting. Yet other losses rarely make
the headlines or show up in statistics. They take root silently in children’s
minds, sometimes staying with them for years after the gunfire has stopped. War
can shape their emotions, sense of security, and trust in the world around
them, as they find themselves surrounded by the sounds of explosions, scenes of
displacement, their parents’ distress, and the disruption of everyday life.
Protecting
children during wartime, therefore, means more than providing food, medicine,
and shelter, essential as these are. It also means safeguarding their mental
health, which is fundamental to their ability to learn, build relationships,
and recover from traumatic experiences. Recognizing this is the first step
toward responding to children’s needs in times of war. The goal is not simply
to save their lives, but also to protect their future and help them rebuild
their lives as human beings whose dignity must be preserved, even before
physical infrastructure is restored.
The
Psychological Effects of War on Children
War can have
devastating consequences for children, including the loss of homes and access
to education, exposure to injury, disease, and malnutrition, separation from
parents, and even forced recruitment. Psychological trauma is among the most
serious of these threats, undermining a child’s sense of security and
shattering the familiar world they once knew. Its effects may include:
1. A
Shaken Sense of Security
Children may
begin to feel that nowhere is safe: not their homes, streets, or schools. They
may also feel that their parents cannot protect them when they see them
frightened and distressed. Hearing bombardment, witnessing injuries, and seeing
destroyed buildings can leave children constantly on edge, expecting something
terrible to happen at any moment.
2.
Persistent Fear of Loss or Separation
Fear of losing
a parent or another family member is among the most common concerns for
children living through war. They may become anxious even when their mother or
father leaves them for a short time, and they may fear leaving home or being
unable to return. Children may not understand the details of war and conflict,
but they can sense the tension in adults’ voices and read the distress on their
faces.
3.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Children
express their inner sense of insecurity in different ways. These may include
frequent crying, irritability, disturbed sleep, excessive clinginess toward
parents, withdrawal and isolation, bedwetting, loss of interest in playing or
learning, and difficulty concentrating.
How
Families Can Help Protect Children’s Mental Health During War
The emergence
of psychological symptoms does not mean that a child has lost the ability to
recover. A supportive environment, close family relationships, and appropriate
care can all help children regain their emotional balance.
Families cannot
bring a war to an end, but they can provide children with a source of
psychological safety and help them cope with its effects. They can do so in
several ways:
1.
Protecting Children from the Harmful Effects of War News
In the digital
age, it is difficult to shield children completely from world events. The
family’s role is not necessarily to cut them off from the news, but to regulate
their exposure, protect them from information that is inappropriate for their
age, and help them understand what they hear and see in an age-appropriate,
reassuring way.
2.
Creating a Sense of Safety
Children need
to feel that someone is there to protect them and care for them. Parents can
foster this sense of security through physical and emotional closeness, calm
conversations, and avoiding displays of panic in front of their children. They
can also reassure them that the adults around them are doing everything they
can to keep them safe.
3.
Listening to Their Feelings and Respecting Their Fears
Children should
be given the opportunity to express their fears and sadness without having
their feelings dismissed or minimized. Listening with patience and
understanding can help ease their distress and make them feel heard.
4.
Maintaining Daily Routines Whenever Possible
Familiar
routines can give children a sense of stability amid uncertainty. Keeping a
regular schedule for sleeping, eating, playing, and learning can provide an
important source of emotional comfort, even when other aspects of life have
been disrupted.
5.
Building Resilience and Coping Skills
Children can
gradually learn ways to cope with stress and express their emotions through
activities such as drawing and writing. Helping them recognize positive things
in their surroundings, without dismissing the reality of what they are
experiencing, can also support their ability to adapt and recover.
6.
Strengthening Family and Social Connections
Staying
connected with relatives and friends and experiencing mutual support can help
children feel less isolated. These relationships remind them that they belong
to a caring family and a wider community that can stand by them during
difficult times.
The Role
of Schools and the Wider Community
Supporting
children’s mental health during wartime is a shared responsibility involving
families, schools, and the wider community. Every effort to provide care and
security can help protect children, support their recovery, and lay the
foundations for a more stable future.
Schools can
offer a safe and supportive environment by establishing predictable daily
routines, giving children opportunities to express their thoughts and fears,
organizing group activities, and providing access to qualified mental health
professionals. They can also help children develop problem-solving skills and
gradually rebuild their confidence in the future.
The wider
community, meanwhile, has a responsibility to protect children from violence
and exploitation and ensure that their basic needs are met, including food,
education, and healthcare. It must also support families, foster a culture of
solidarity, provide children with emotional support, and involve them in
cultural, sporting, and social activities. These efforts help protect
children’s well-being in the present while preserving their ability to recover
and rebuild their lives once the crisis has passed.
When
Should Parents Seek Help from a Mental Health Professional?
Parents should
consider seeking professional support when their children show signs that they
are struggling to cope with fear and stress, or when their experiences begin to
interfere with everyday life.
Warning signs
that may warrant professional attention include:
1.
Sleep Disturbances
These may
include recurring nightmares, fear of going to sleep, or waking up in a state
of panic.
2.
Noticeable Behavioral Changes
These may
include social withdrawal, increased aggression, or frequent and intense
outbursts of anger.
3.
Persistent Anxiety and Fear
Children may
become extremely sensitive to loud noises or the sound of bombardment, or
remain constantly worried that another disaster is about to happen.
4.
Physical Symptoms Without an Apparent Medical Cause
These may
include stomachaches, headaches, loss of appetite, and persistent fatigue.
5.
Exposure to Particularly Distressing Experiences, Even Without Obvious Symptoms
Professional
support may also be helpful when a child has lost someone close to them,
sustained an injury, faced a direct threat, been displaced from home, or spent
an extended period living amid fear and instability, even if no obvious
psychological or physical symptoms have emerged.
Protecting
Children Beyond the End of War
There is no
doubt that war can leave deep scars on children’s minds. Yet the human
connections children share with the people around them can serve as a powerful
protective factor, helping reduce the lasting effects of trauma.
This
responsibility does not end when the fighting stops. It extends far beyond the
battlefield, requiring sustained care and support to help entire generations
heal, regain their sense of security, and grow into a future that offers them
hope.
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