AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue #3.05
From Young Media Australia
Phone: 61 8 8376 2111
Fax: 61 8 8376 2122
Email: helpline@youngmedia.org.au
Website: http://www.youngmedia.org.au
Our website has two new topics in its "Media Effects - general" section: Tragic world events
in the media?Questions and answers for parents and Tragic world events in the media?An ages
and stages approach to helping your children cope.
HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE WAR
Now that Australia is at war with Iraq, we can expect saturation media coverage of this frightening event. There will be news breaks interrupting normal programming, promotions of news programs and documentaries in times normally reserved for G programming and graphic footage repeated over and over again.
Young Media Australia Helpline believes there are six key questions that parents and caregivers can ask themselves to help them care for their children at this time.
1. How old are the children in my care? Respond according to their level of development.
2. What media are they seeing or hearing? Minimise and rationalise.
3. How are my children feeling? Listen and acknowledge.
4. How am I communicating with them? Communicate openly and honestly.
5. How can I reassure them? Give both physical and logical reassurance.
6. How can I make them feel safe? Routines, family togetherness and monitoring your own reactions.
For more detailed responses to these questions and some practical tips in applying them, parents are reminded that the national freecall Young Media Australia Helpline (1800 700 357) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and includes access to a Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS).
Children and the Media: Let's talk 1800 700 357
Please direct all enquiries to:
Pamela Wright,
Development Officer, Young Media Australia
(08) 8376 2111
helpline@youngmedia.org.au
Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue #3.05
Printable Version