Green Crescent Helps Heal the Wounds of the Disaster

Yeşilay continues its efforts to heal the wounds of the major disaster experienced in our country. The "Guide to Helping Our Children in Crisis Situations," prepared by the United Nations and Manchester University, was reviewed and edited by experts within the scope of Yeşilay's cooperation, translated into Turkish, and made available to people affected by the earthquake. Within this scope, the aim is to address the effects of the earthquake on children. The "Guide to Helping Our Children in Crisis Situations" featured on Yeşilay's website starts by confronting earthquake-affected parents with the emotions they are experiencing. Inviting parents to help themselves first, the guide prompts them to take action to overcome the process through the options it provides, while enabling them to empathize with their children.

How to increase children's resilience?

The "Guide to Helping Our Children in Crisis Situations" reminds that safety is a priority and notes that areas where children will feel comfortable must be created. According to the guide developed through Yeşilay's cooperation, spending quality time with children during this difficult period accelerates building a safe wall around them. At this point, families are advised: "Do not refrain from touching your children and hugging them, or telling them how much you love them!" It is emphasized that creating opportunities to appreciate children is the most important step in increasing their resilience.

A bedside guide for parents

The "Guide to Helping Our Children in Crisis Situations," presented to readers in understandable language, serves as a guide to parents by noting that quality time spent with children will free them from worries. It presents to parents what they can do to encourage good behavior in children. By reminding that fighting and aggression in children may be a natural reflection of the disaster, it outlines methods for coping with such negative behaviors. It also provides formulas for coping with sleep disorders resulting from emotions such as fear and anxiety, while offering relaxation techniques. It also serves as a bedside guide for parents in terms of overcoming the impossibilities experienced in maintaining life's routines.

A separate section for adolescents

The "Guide to Helping Our Children in Crisis Situations," which provides families with strategies and tips for alleviating and addressing the psychological effects of the earthquake on children, also includes a separate section on caring for children in adolescence.