Practice social distancing from COVID-19 news, counsellor warns

The dreaded disease has infected more than 2.5 million people and killed more than 180,000 worldwide, while scientists continue to work on developing a vaccine. But even after the coronavirus is brought under control its negative impact on human life is likely to remain for some time, according to one counsellor.

“Be reminded that adults interpret information differently than children do. Also, children handle stress differently than adults do,” said Andre Atkinson, guidance counsellor at Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School in a note to parents and teachers.

This possible increase in psychological trauma, he said, is due to children becoming large consumers of COVID-19 information, as the world is constantly supplied with the latest developments about the virus. With education being done from home, in addition to the government’s imposition of a stay-at-home order islandwide to contain the spread of the virus locally, children are more vulnerable.

“Begin by reducing the amount of newscast and social media reports to which you open yourself and your children. Reduce what comes into your space and memory and vigorously extricate it from your children's as well,” said Atkinson, who has more than 10 years experience as a counsellor.

Atkinson, a former guidance counsellor at Ascot and Clan Carthy high schools, added: “Rather, explain in family terms what the disease is all about. In so doing you break down traumatizing information into bite-size pieces. Remember when you used to feed your child dumpling or tough crackers. Begin to practice social distancing from newscasts and not just physically. Two newscasts for the day are sufficient. Yes. No more.”

According to the counsellor an overconsumption of COVID-19 reports “wreaks havoc” on the body of a child or an adult causing disruptions in “blood pressure, blood flow” and other emotional stresses.

“Fear is built up and chemicals for fight or flight are released, which then heightens your blood flow, increases heart beats, but is not expended because you have nowhere to run to. Adrenaline circulates until it burns out with drastic implications for your organs,” he said.

He said what’s more important at this time is for children to be reassured by adults.

“Your children will not benefit from this. Instead of them learning about the virus from the media, shape their information by talking to them about the virus,” he explained. “Assure them that you won't die nor will they because you have put things in place to protect them. In so doing you assure them of their safety, a need many children have and seek to be assured of right now.”

“I cannot stress more the need to break your children from the newscasts,” he reiterates. “Learn from the post-traumatic stress many children developed from watching murder on the news and social media daily. Why do you think young people now video someone dying, rather than seeking to assist them to hospital? Post-traumatic stress disorder is coming and we can prevent it by reducing our daily intake of news. Do not become like a deer in the headlights or a moth to flames. Recognize the danger and the causes. Minimize the risks. Protect your children.”

Its psychological effect is more far-reaching and is the very reason why he’s warning parents and guardians to limit the amount of COVID-19 content children view at home.

“In the post coronavirus period to come, many persons will show increased anxiety in adults and children alike,” he said. “Limited attention spans will be seen. Children may become rebellious and refuse to sit in one place for extended periods of time. They may prefer being outdoors than indoors for the entire day. In other words they may become very defiant or very depressed.”