The restrictions in the corona pandemic hit children and young people particularly hard. Instead of carefree summer holidays, they are now experiencing traumatic events in the flood disaster areas.
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler / Mainz – In the middle of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, which was badly damaged by the flood disaster, the “family nest” of the Catholic family education center has remained.
“We only have small rooms there, but toys and everything that children need and we want to set up a contact point for families there as soon as possible,” says the director of the family education center, Christine Kläser. About two kilometers from the city, the facility has set up a family meeting point in the parish hall of Karweiler – with extra shuttle buses for families.
“Highly traumatizing”
“The children were there when the flood came in the night completely unprepared,” says the state chairman of the child protection association, Christian Zainhofer. “You have lost relatives, experienced the panic of the night of horror and feel the despair of your parents day after day.”
“That is very traumatizing for the children,” says Zainhofer. But the situation is also very difficult for her parents. They are standing in front of the ruins of their existence, have been badly psychologically affected and have an endless amount of work to do. “The children are in the way.” Many parents therefore tried to place their children with friends or relatives outside the disaster area. “In many corners it is also far too dangerous.”
Local offers are important
“Taking the children out of the family and sending them off for free time is not a good idea now,” says Zainhofer. “Traumatized children need their parents.” Contact with mother, father or other family members is important in this situation. “Otherwise they worry about their parents and don’t know what’s going on.” Local offers are therefore important.
“After an acute trauma, the most important thing is that children can relax and experience security,” says psychotherapist Hannah Richter from the trauma clinic for children and adolescents at Cologne University Hospital. This also includes everyday routines and times outside of the destroyed disaster area when normality can be felt. “The children need shelter in which they can experience security.” These could also be offers such as daycare centers and family education centers. “The younger the children are, the more they seek contact with their caregivers.”
Cuddly toys or other “safety objects”
The President of the State Chamber of Psychotherapists, Sabine Maur, says: “The most important message for the children is: It’s over, you are safe.” In addition to a safe environment, cuddly toys and other “safety objects” are also important. “Now it’s first about first aid for the soul.”
“The children sleep poorly, have fears and no longer want to be alone, cling to their parents,” Maur describes typical symptoms. “They also fall back into toddler mode, wet themselves, use baby language and are suddenly completely dependent again.” Richter adds: “This is a self-help to experience closeness and security.” And: “Aggressive behaviors are also possible.”
“Some have lost everything”
According to the State Statistical Office, almost 16,000 boys and girls live in the Ahrweiler district alone. “The degree of trauma to the children is very different,” says teacher Kläser. “Some have lost everything, and only five kilometers further you can see nothing of the incredible catastrophe.”
As a rule, the children are also more excited than the adults and react particularly to so-called triggers such as rain, helicopters or sirens, says Maur. “So far, these have been” normal “reactions to a catastrophe of this magnitude.” Kläser reports: “When it rained again for the first time, the children were already restless and the images came up again.”
Post-traumatic stress disorder possible
Whether children and adolescents also develop post-traumatic stress disorders can only be assessed after four to six weeks at the earliest, says Maur. “It will always be a traumatic experience.” However, around two thirds of people manage to deal with it. Around a third suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders and need psychotherapeutic help.
In a situation like in the Ahr valley, it is also helpful if other family members can give the children security and security, says Richter. “Families shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help. If the symptoms do not subside after three to four weeks at the latest, professional help is useful in order to be able to process what has happened. “
“The flood victims don’t want to part with their parents very much,” reports social worker Petra Klein from an open house in Sinzig. That is why the facility also offers a parents’ café. “We try to convey as much normality as possible to the children.” The prospective first graders in particular asked whether they would be coming to school now.
School: clash of realities of life
It must be ensured that daycare centers and schools function again “so that things can continue after the summer vacation” and that Corona does not lead to another dry spell, demands Zainhofer.
“After the summer vacation, children who were in Mallorca will sit in a class and children who are now living in an emergency shelter,” says Kläser. The clash of these realities of life worries her. It is important that social workers and psychologists are also present in the class or that the teachers are prepared for this. dpa
