Natural disasters, including epidemics and pandemics, can have a traumatic impact on children and adolescents’ development. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged their cognitive and socioemotional functioning (Alivernini et al., 2021; Ellis et al., 2020; Oosterhoff et al., 2020; Waselewski et al., 2020), provoking increased rates of psychopathology all over the world (Chen et al., 2020; Duan et al., 2020; Li et al., 2020; Magson et al., 2021; McElroy et al., 2020; Tang et al., 2021; Yang et al., 2020; Yeasmin et al., 2020). Fostering emotion knowledge and awareness about coping strategies is a valuable resource to promote their adjustment in the face of adversities—a key process for resilience (Masten, 2021). Since February 2020, we have been conducting a pamphlet-based public communication campaign to assist adults in supporting children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at increasing their knowledge of pandemic-related emotions and evidence-based coping strategies. We developed a pamphlet (https://www.hemot.eu/2020/02/28/public-health-emergency/) based on a method to train people to cope with disasters (Raccanello & Burro, 2019). It included basic information on the pandemic, emotions commonly experienced, and tips on coping strategies proved to be effective (Zimmer-Gembeck & Skinner, 2011). The pamphlet is available in 17 languages. Its contents were evaluated as easy to understand and useful by a sample of adults. During the first 40 days of release of the campaign, the pamphlet reached a large international audience through at least 216 media, included The New York Times. The website including the pamphlet had more than 6,000 visitors, most from Europe and the Americas. Until now, it has had almost 12,000 visitors. Due to methodological constraints, we could not produce different content for children and adolescence. Nevertheless, our campaign can be replicated in different communities and settings to respond to the threats of COVID-19 or other disasters.
Addressing adults to support children and adolescents to cope with pandemic-related emotions: A public communication campaign
Raccanello D.;Vicentini G.;Rocca E.;Barnaba V.;Hall R.;Burro, R.
2022-01-01
Abstract
Natural disasters, including epidemics and pandemics, can have a traumatic impact on children and adolescents’ development. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged their cognitive and socioemotional functioning (Alivernini et al., 2021; Ellis et al., 2020; Oosterhoff et al., 2020; Waselewski et al., 2020), provoking increased rates of psychopathology all over the world (Chen et al., 2020; Duan et al., 2020; Li et al., 2020; Magson et al., 2021; McElroy et al., 2020; Tang et al., 2021; Yang et al., 2020; Yeasmin et al., 2020). Fostering emotion knowledge and awareness about coping strategies is a valuable resource to promote their adjustment in the face of adversities—a key process for resilience (Masten, 2021). Since February 2020, we have been conducting a pamphlet-based public communication campaign to assist adults in supporting children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at increasing their knowledge of pandemic-related emotions and evidence-based coping strategies. We developed a pamphlet (https://www.hemot.eu/2020/02/28/public-health-emergency/) based on a method to train people to cope with disasters (Raccanello & Burro, 2019). It included basic information on the pandemic, emotions commonly experienced, and tips on coping strategies proved to be effective (Zimmer-Gembeck & Skinner, 2011). The pamphlet is available in 17 languages. Its contents were evaluated as easy to understand and useful by a sample of adults. During the first 40 days of release of the campaign, the pamphlet reached a large international audience through at least 216 media, included The New York Times. The website including the pamphlet had more than 6,000 visitors, most from Europe and the Americas. Until now, it has had almost 12,000 visitors. Due to methodological constraints, we could not produce different content for children and adolescence. Nevertheless, our campaign can be replicated in different communities and settings to respond to the threats of COVID-19 or other disasters.
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