SWRHA manager: Seven per cent children exhibit trauma symptoms

UPDATE:

WITH the number of children exhibiting trauma-related symptoms on the increase, the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) embarked on a workshop for psychiatric and medical social workers as well as clinical psychologists and doctors to better equip them to help.

Addressing the workshop’s launch at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital yesterday, acting director of health Dr Pravinde Ramoutar said about five per cent of cases seen at the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) in 2016 had exhibited trauma symptoms.

“This figure of trauma-related cases increased in 2017 to seven per cent of total cases seen at the CGC.

“It is expected that such referrals will continue as seven per cent of the 143 referrals received at the CGC for the year, thus far, involve victims of trauma.

On an average, four hundred children and adolescents are projected to access mental health services at our CGC annually. This is a significant challenge for SWRHA but with its limited resources, we are adeptly responding to the demands.”

He said trauma related symptoms occur as result of either physical and or sexual abuse, domestic abuse, child neglect, bullying or due to witnessing a traumatic event.

Ramoutar said children and adolescents who experience traumatic situations may have difficulty processing their thought and emotions about the incident which may also lead to negative behaviour and emotional responses.

“They are at higher risk for mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

Meanwhile, clinical psychological Dr Saran Looby said training would introduce participants to Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) which is an evidence-based psychotherapy or counselling that aims at addressing the needs of children and adults with post-traumatic stress disorder and other difficulties related to traumatic life events.

She said incidents which bring about trauma are child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, death of a parent or a severe accident, or a natural disaster.

“There has been an increase in the number of children dealing with trauma who has been seen at the child guidance clinic now.”

She said untreated trauma can have a “devastating effect on a child and the child may begin to avoid situations that remind them of the trauma and may also get hypervigilant.” “It can impact a child’s function in the home and in school, difficulty to concentrate in school or study at home, may develop some behaviour problems, irritable, moody, rude to parents and may engage in hypersexual behaviour.”

SWRHA regional manager for psychiatry Pooran Sankar said the training would equip staff to deal with both the children and their parents and provide relief from the trauma.

“Seven per cent of the referrals we have had to child guidance clinic, at the intake level, we realise they have been affected with trauma but as you do the intake, you realise it is more than just seven per cent, it might double. Its physical abuse, its sexual abuse, children experiencing g traumatic events in their environment.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

WITH the number of children exhibiting trauma-related symptoms on the increase, the South West Regional Health Authority embarked on a training workshop for psychiatric and medical social workers as well as clinical psychologists and doctors to better equip them to help children deal with trauma.

Addressing the workshop’s launch at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital eighth floor conference room yesterday, ag director of health Dr Pravinde Ramoutar said about five per cent of cases seen at the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) in 2016 had exhibited trauma symptoms.

“This figure of trauma related cases increased in 2017 to seven per cent of total cases seen at CGC. It is expected that such referrals will continue as seven per cent of the 143 referrals received at CGC for the year thus far involve victims of trauma.”

“On an average, four hundred children and adolescents are projected to access mental health services at our CGC annually. This is a significant challenge for SWRHA but with its limited resources, we are adeptly responding to the demands.”

He said trauma related symptoms occur as result of either physical and or sexual abuse, domestic abuse, child neglect, bullying or due to witnessing a traumatic event.