Social support for children with war trauma

Abstract

The article explores the challenges of social and psychological support for children affected by the military conflict in Ukraine. It outlines two stages of the conflict: the first, which took place in Eastern Ukraine until 2022, and the second, which began with Russia's full-scale aggression that continues to this day. The article places particular emphasis on the psychological impact on children, such as the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disturbances in their psycho-emotional state, caused by traumatic experiences, including the loss of loved ones, fear, and a sense of insecurity. The importance of a comprehensive approach to social support for children is highlighted, encompassing the provision of individual and group psychological assistance, support for families, educational work with teaching staff, and the creation of conditions for rehabilitation. It is determined that an effective system of social and psychological support must be based on close interaction between schools, social services, and medical institutions. Three stages of support are formulated: diagnostic-analytical, operational, and control-analytical. It is established that long-term social and psychological support, taking into account the individual needs of each child, helps to stabilize their emotional state, reduces the risk of developing PTSD, and facilitates adaptation to new living conditions. Furthermore, involving parents in the rehabilitation process and creating a supportive environment is an important aspect that enhances the effectiveness of the assistance. The article proposes future research directions in the study of psychosocial support methods, their adaptation to current conditions, as well as an analysis of the effectiveness of cross-sectoral cooperation to ensure comprehensive support for children in crisis situations.