BUFFALO, N.Y. — From newscasts to social media, the war in Ukraine is everywhere, and while it's important to keep informed, seeing the tragedy play out virtually in real time can cause mental and emotional strain.
What You Need To Know
- Constant updates on the war in Ukraine through news and social media has taken a toll on the mental and emotional health of many people
- As adults are finding ways to process the influx of information, many are also figuring out how to explain current events to their children
- Understanding the conflict can aid in processing and explaining information
- Experts in psychology suggest focusing on joyful things at the onset of stress from media consumption
“Being exposed to any kind of upsetting information, the effect that that has on you is, what do you do with that information?" said Jennifer Read, PhD, University at Buffalo department of psychology chair. "Are you talking to other people about it? Are you getting support around it?”
While many adults are having difficulty processing the endless stream of updates, commentary and calls to action, it is important to remember the impact on young minds.
“Kids know and understand a lot more than we sometimes give them credit for,” Read said. “So talking to them. Asking them what they saw. What they understood. What are they afraid of? What are their concerns? The most important thing is allowing them space to talk about the things that are worrying them and upsetting them.”
While you should take care when explaining concepts like war to children, many parents feel that avoiding the topic altogether is not the answer, especially when children have access to more channels of information than ever.
“I think that children need to know what’s going on,” said Richard Balsano, a Buffalo resident and father of three young children. “I think it’s important that parents explain to them that there’s things going on and people need help, and people are being affected by it everywhere.”
A good understanding of conflict can also help with processing world events and explaining them to children.
“The world is a crazy place and things that are out of our control are happening right now, and people are being affected by it," Balsano said. "We just try to keep a positive attitude toward that and explain that not everybody has the same outlooks on life and respect of other countries.”
As difficult as it may be, remaining positive is crucial, whether in finding ways to support the cause or remembering what brings joy.
“If you see something upsetting on TV about Ukraine, do something," Read said. "Try to do something positive. Try to contribute positive things and that can give you a sense of hopefulness that can take you a long way."