Hablar con los niños y los adolescentes sobre las noticias de hechos violentos en nuestras comunidades es difícil. Las conversaciones honestas entre las personas jóvenes y las figuras de autoridad en sus vidas, como padres, madres u otros familiares importantes, son fundamentales para ayudarlos a sentirse seguros.
Dedicar tiempo a comunicarse de esta manera con sus seres queridos brinda a las familias una oportunidad de procesar los eventos trágicos y juntos superar los momentos difíciles.
“La vida les presenta a los niños cambios, tragedias, pérdidas y enfermedades; no podemos evitarlo”, explica Don Mordecai, MD, director nacional de salud mental en Kaiser Permanente. “Demuéstreles a sus hijos que, cuando tengan noticias impactantes, emociones negativas o angustia, usted estará allí para escucharlos y ayudarlos. Ante todo, haga lo necesario para estar presente, ser honesto y convertirse en una fuente de calma y consuelo”.
El Dr. Mordecai ofrece las siguientes sugerencias para ayudar a padres e hijos a tener estas conversaciones:
Promueva un diálogo abierto. Pregúnteles a sus hijos cómo se sienten. El diálogo debe ser abierto y sincero, pero adecuado para la edad. Es mejor compartir solo la información que nos piden, sin entrar en demasiados detalles sobre cuestiones que tal vez ni siquiera conozcan. Si no sabe las respuestas a las preguntas de sus hijos, está bien decir “no lo sé”. Tal vez puedan buscar la respuesta juntos.
Ayúdelos a encontrar como expresar lo que piensan. Puede ser difícil para los niños describir cómo se sienten. Empiece haciendo preguntas abiertas para hacer avanzar la conversación y permita a los niños pequeños usar libros o imágenes como ayuda para compartir sus emociones. A los niños mayores sugiérales escribir cartas o llevar un diario.
Valide sus sentimientos. Hágales saber a los niños que es completamente normal sentir curiosidad, confusión y hasta estar tristes o molestos por lo que sucede. Valide lo que le digan o lo que sienten. Use frases como: “Yo también me siento así” o “Tiene mucho sentido”. También puede aceptar los sentimientos con un abrazo o dándoles el espacio que necesiten para pensar y procesar lo ocurrido.
Siempre transmita esperanza. Enfóquese en el hecho de que estamos seguros la mayor parte del tiempo, en casi todos los lugares y las ciudades del mundo. Tranquilícelos y asegúreles que usted, la familia ampliada y la comunidad están comprometidos con mantener a todos seguros y sanos en estos momentos.
Si desea conocer otros consejos para empezar a conversar con sus hijos y obtener ayuda para usted o para algún ser querido, visite EncuentraQueDecir.
Si usted o alguien que conoce tienen problemas de depresión, ansiedad, adicciones u otros trastornos emocionales o de salud mental, es importante que accedan a la atención y el apoyo que necesitan. Los miembros de Kaiser Permanente pueden visitar kp.org/saludmental para recibir atención. Muchos de nuestros servicios están disponibles de manera virtual, para más conveniencia y seguridad. Para obtener ayuda inmediata ante una crisis de salud mental, incluidos pensamientos suicidas, llame al 911 o acuda a la sala de emergencias más cercana.
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