Psycho-educational materials on war and stressful situations

The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) works under the framework of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and has developed materials addressing children’s distress and anxiety about war, a guide on how to talk to children about war, and an infographic on reactions to distressing situations.

1 – The ‘How do you talk to children about war?’ guide can be used by parents and caregivers with children who have been directly affected by conflict and for children who may have friends in conflict settings. It can be used as a guide to help parents who may be struggling to find explanations after watching disturbing images on TV or social media support and care for their children. It can be used by Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers who are providing support to conflict-affected families and children and by staff and volunteers manning hotlines and helplines. It is available in English, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Romanian.

2 – An infographic, Common reactions to distressing situations and extreme stress, describes the physical, mental, emotional, interpersonal, and behavioral reactions to extreme stress and distressing events and common reactions in children. Available in English and Polish.