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The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) has warned that the civil unrest, looting and violence gripping parts of the country could see a spike in Post-Traumatic Stress disorder amongst children.
Child Psychiatrist Dr Anusha Lachman says children are highly susceptible to fear and feeling overwhelmed as they witness the unsettling current events via social media, the news, and through adult conversations.
She says parents play the most crucial role in assisting children to deal with the current uncertainty and they need to recognise that children simply hearing about the violence, and observing adults' responses to the situation, can cause a child to become more anxious and traumatized.
Dr Lachman says adults can limit exposure to news, social media and WhatsApp messages doing the rounds.
She says symptoms to look out for include nightmares, flashbacks, poor sleep, disturbing memories and anxiety-related behaviours, such as being more clingy, jittery and more alert.
Some children could also show regressive behaviours such as thumb sucking, bedwetting and complaints such as headaches and tummy aches.
