Each day children are exposed to death and trauma as the result of war, terror, crime and disease resulting from political and social events over which they have no possible control. This presentation will review the various categories of psychological trauma and loss and the common responses to that trauma by children and youth at different developmental levels. Psychological trauma will be described and discussed as an understandable and very predictable reaction to a sudden, unexpected, and intense event that taxes individuals beyond their usual capacity to cope. These events will be discussed in terms of intensity and duration. Even for adults with years of life experience, a fine education, and well developed coping mechanisms trauma and the resulting loss, grief, and stress can be overwhelming at times but for children with much less power and control, it is no less real and full of pain.

Typical patterns of childhood response to violence will be described from both psychological and behavioral perspectives. Normal and abnormal responses to psychological trauma will be described as well as the typical patterns of recovery and the psychological and environmental components affecting that recovery. Specific problematic responses including post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression, phobias, substance abuse, etc. will be described. Specific recommendations will be made with regard to effective and age appropriate interventions to identify both normal and abnormal reactions to stress, grief and loss resulting from traumatic exposure to violence and terror as well as for assisting children and youth to recover and minimize the long term psychological effects of trauma.