Psychologists use Syrian experience to help Ukrainian families
A two-page leaflet developed from the experience of displaced Syrian parents living through the country鈥檚 civil war has been updated and translated into Ukrainian and other languages in the hope it will make a difference for families.
You can download The University of Manchester leaflet in Ukrainian, Russian, English, Polish , Romanian, Dutch and German
The leaflet is read aloud in several languages in , and
More UNODC and University of Manchester collaborative family skills resources, including those translated for the Ukrainian crisis, are available on the UNODC
The leaflet is based on the research of Dr Aala El-Khani, a University of Manchester psychologist and parenting trainer who developed numerous family skills interventions and parenting resources based on her experiences working with Syrian refugees in Syria, Turkey and the UK.
The academic, who is of Syrian heritage herself, worked with Professor Rachel Calam, Professor of Child and Family Psychology and Dr Kim Cartwright at The University of Manchester, to produce the leaflet.
It explained that anxiety, nightmares, bedwetting, withdrawal and even aggression are normal responses to childhood trauma, and offered basic reminders and suggestions for looking after themselves and their children.
Working with a humanitarian organization in Syria, 3000 leaflets were printed and distributed with humanitarian bread supplies to families inside the war-torn country.
Research shows that one of the most important predictors for the mental health of children who experience conflict and displacement is the way that they are cared for by their families. Warm, positive parenting can help buffer children from psychological harm.
We aim to share this vital information through any channel possible so that parents and caregivers are able to best support children through conflict, flight, displacement and eventually resettlement to somewhere new. We appeal to journalists, organisations and the public alike to use every opportunity to help to spread this vital information and help families and children affected by the terrible war in Ukraine
Professor Rachel, Callam said: 鈥淲e know that good family relationships are an important way to promote children鈥檚 mental wellbeing, which can help to counteract their actual experience in wartime - appalling though that may be.
鈥淚f families can provide warm, positive and secure parenting, that can be powerfully protective, and this information helps them to achieve just that.鈥�
Dr El-Khani works as an international consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), where she and Professor Calam have co-developed a number of other family skills resources in response to crisis contexts globally that are also now being utilised in many countries.
She told the in an interview that every displaced parent she met was struggling with emotional or behavioural changes in their children.
鈥淪ome had gone looking for advice, asking camp doctors, teachers and NGO. But these people were too overwhelmed with their own roles or didn鈥檛 have the knowledge to help,鈥� she told them.
A talk by Dr El-Khani鈥檚 called 鈥淲hat it鈥檚 like to be a parent in a war zone鈥�, which has had 1.1 million views so far, and was made an Editor's Pick on the front page.
Seeing this leaflet, one relief worker in Romania said:
"So really helpful, at first hand all the info guidance and advices, Will make sure to have printed out forms and given to parents in need that cross the border from Ukraine to Romania.鈥�
Another said:
"Thank you for this valuable resource. We will use it among our networks and share it with those who are helping to provide pastoral support for traumatised Ukrainian refugees.鈥�
Following feedback from refugee families, the team have developed a more detailed booklet, giving more information on parenting through conflict and displacement, which can be downloaded here. Caregivers may find it helpful to sit together and talk through this with other families.
More UNODC and University of Manchester collaborative family skills resources, including those translated for the Ukrainian crisis, are available on this