WILL MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE PTSD IN THE FUTURE?

WILL MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE PTSD IN THE FUTURE?

Most of us live in a world that is remote from conflict areas and war. Because it is not a daily or local issue in our lives, it is easy to be desensitized to the horrors and trauma that are experienced daily by some 420 million children living in conflict-affected areas. Save The Children reports that one in five children in the world live in conflict zones. I tried to translate those very disturbing numbers into some kind of meaningful reality for myself.

My childhood was lived in a small coal mining town of about 500 people near Drumheller, Alberta. Most residents were families who worked in the coal mines and lived peacefully in small homes, tended large gardens, and socialized together. As kids we walked to school, played on the streets, by the river and in the hills, with no supervision or organization. We fended for ourselves, playing ball or hide and seek games or hanging out at the local equivalent of 7-11, called Steve’s Store. Life was simple, unhurried, safe and pretty much free from any conflict or danger. It was kind of like living in Mayberry on the Andy Griffiths show. 

I find it hard to imagine what life for a child is like in places like Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, the Congo, Syria, Iraq, Mali, Nigeria and Somalia. Many conflicting armed forces fighting regularly in many towns and cities is the order of the day. Attacks by planes, rockets, roadside bombs, terrorist suicide bombers and daily gunfire and explosions are common and regular. How does a small child who is 4, 6, 8, or 10 years old handle such traumatic realities? How can they possibly understand what is happening. They often witness people being killed or wounded in front of them. A U.N. report indicates grave violations are being perpetrated against children -- which include being killed, maimed, recruited or abducted by armed groups, sexual violence, attacks on schools and denial of humanitarian aid.

Another critical aspect of living in war zones is the lack of food and water, medical supplies and services. We so take for granted these basic necessities that are often absent in conflict areas. I try to imagine myself as a child or my two grandchildren living in a town in Syria today and can’t even conjure up a meaningful vision of what the reality must be. All I can sense is that it would be horrible and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone - adult or child! I challenge you to place your children or grandchildren mentally into this scenario for a moment of sombre reflection!

Finally, I reflect upon the number of soldiers who return home suffering from PTSD as a result of the stresses and pressures of fighting in a war zone. If adults can be so seriously affected, how much more must children suffer? How can a young child possibly not be psychologically and emotionally damaged for life if they have spent any time in one of the war zones in our world? Assuming, or should I say praying, that many of the current global conflicts will be resolved soon, how many children survivors will be victims of PTSD in the future? 

It is not a lot of fun to slow down occasionally and reflect on some of the atrocities that we read about or witness remotely on TV. I find it very sobering, but also know that if my phone beeps I will instantly race to it and the above issues will vanish from my thought stream in an instant! Another kind of tragedy!