Immigrant and refugee children and youth have often experienced traumatic events. In the case of refugee children, these events may have occurred during times of war and forced displacement. The effects of traumatic experiences may manifest in a range of emotional, cognitive and behavioural symptoms that are different from those seen in adults.
Feelings of sadness, grief, fear, frustration, nervousness, anger, despair, boredom and irritability
A sense of loss of control, helplessness, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating in school, intrusive thoughts and anxious or depressive ruminations
Fatigue, problems sleeping, episodes of bedwetting, loss of appetite and medically-unexplained physical symptoms
Social withdrawal, isolation from peers, disinterest in play, aggressive behaviour and interpersonal problems
The child's developmental stage affects the way they understand and react to a traumatic event (NCTSN, 2005; Shakya et al., 2010). The most common trauma-related symptoms in children vary based on their age group, with considerable overlap existing between all age groups. The most notable symptoms are outlined below.