0:00:10.478,0:00:12.028 Good Morning 0:00:12.808,0:00:18.098 Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people [br]experience armed conflict 0:00:19.137,0:00:21.738 In response, people are forced to flee [br]their country. 0:00:21.738,0:00:25.078 leaving over 15 million refugees. 0:00:25.508,0:00:27.227 Children without a doubt are 0:00:27.227,0:00:30.227 the most innocent and vulnerable victims. 0:00:30.418,0:00:33.158 But not just from the obvious[br]physical dangers, 0:00:33.158,0:00:37.158 but from, the often, unspoken affects[br]that wars have on their families. 0:00:38.088,0:00:41.088 The experiences of war leave children [br]at real high risk 0:00:41.228,0:00:44.918 for the development of emotional [br]and behavioural problems. 0:00:45.738,0:00:47.508 Children as we can only imagine, 0:00:47.508,0:00:49.638 will feel worried, threaten and at risk. 0:00:50.725,0:00:52.435 But there is good news, 0:00:52.435,0:00:54.834 the quality of care that children receive 0:00:54.834,0:00:58.234 in their families, can have a [br]more significant effects 0:00:58.234,0:01:00.254 on their well-being, than from 0:01:00.282,0:01:03.822 the actual experiences of war that [br]they have been exposed to. 0:01:04.282,0:01:07.092 So actually, children can be protected 0:01:07.302,0:01:09.490 by warm, secure parenting, 0:01:09.920,0:01:11.967 during and after conflict. 0:01:13.637,0:01:17.157 In 2011, I was a first year PHD Student 0:01:17.157,0:01:19.127 in the University Of Manchester 0:01:19.127,0:01:21.191 School Of Physiological Sciences. 0:01:21.271,0:01:24.162 Like many of you here, I watched [br]the crisis in Syria 0:01:24.162,0:01:26.242 unfold in front of me on the TV. 0:01:26.352,0:01:29.842 My family are originally from Syria,[br]and very early on 0:01:29.842,0:01:32.942 I lost several family members[br]in really horrifying ways. 0:01:33.522,0:01:36.632 I sat and I gathered with my family [br]and watched the TV. 0:01:37.002,0:01:38.662 So we have all seen those scenes, 0:01:38.662,0:01:42.662 bombs destroying, buildings, [br]chaos, destruction. 0:01:42.852,0:01:45.382 and people screaming and running. 0:01:45.662,0:01:47.462 It was always the people screaming[br]and running 0:01:47.462,0:01:49.532 that really got me the most. 0:01:49.762,0:01:52.532 Specially those terrified [br]looking children. 0:01:53.484,0:01:57.114 I was a mother to two young,[br]typically inquisitive children. 0:01:57.114,0:01:58.809 They were five and six then. 0:01:58.809,0:02:01.669 At an age when they typically [br]ask lots and lots of questions 0:02:01.669,0:02:04.509 and expect real convincing answers. 0:02:05.338,0:02:07.998 So I began to wonder what it might be like 0:02:07.998,0:02:12.074 to parent my children in a war-zone [br]and a refugee camp. 0:02:12.328,0:02:14.198 Would my children change? 0:02:14.768,0:02:18.228 Would my daughter's bright happy [br]eyes lose their shine? 0:02:18.677,0:02:21.157 Would my son's really relax [br]care-free nature 0:02:21.807,0:02:23.727 become fearful and withdrawn? 0:02:24.799,0:02:26.139 How would I cope? 0:02:27.712,0:02:29.442 Would I change? 0:02:30.552,0:02:32.822 As psychologists and parent's trainers 0:02:32.832,0:02:34.662 we know that arming parents 0:02:34.662,0:02:36.732 with skills and caring for their children 0:02:36.732,0:02:39.182 can have a huge effect on their well-being. 0:02:40.026,0:02:42.436 We call this parents training. 0:02:42.436,0:02:43.896 So the questions I had 0:02:43.896,0:02:47.896 was could Parent Training programs [br]be useful for families 0:02:48.083,0:02:50.843 while they're still in war-zones or [br]refugee camps? 0:02:51.202,0:02:53.692 Could we reach them with [br]advice or training 0:02:53.692,0:02:56.272 that would help them through [br]these struggles? 0:02:57.849,0:03:00.039 So, I approached my PHD supervisor, 0:03:00.269,0:03:01.789 professor Rachel Calam, 0:03:01.789,0:03:04.189 with the idea of using my academic skills 0:03:04.189,0:03:06.579 to make some changes in the real world. 0:03:06.579,0:03:09.529 I wasn't quite sure, exactly,[br]what I wanted to do. 0:03:09.629,0:03:11.599 She listened carefully and patiently, 0:03:11.599,0:03:12.979 And then to my joy, [br]she said: 0:03:12.979,0:03:14.519 "If that is what you want to do, 0:03:14.539,0:03:16.909 and it means so much to you, then [br]let's do it. 0:03:17.349,0:03:20.489 Let's find ways to see if [br]parent programs can be useful 0:03:20.825,0:03:23.455 for families in this contexts." 0:03:23.505,0:03:26.475 So for the past five years myself [br]and my colleagues, 0:03:26.775,0:03:28.785 professor Calam and Dr. Kim Cartwright 0:03:28.905,0:03:31.045 have been working on ways [br]to support families 0:03:31.355,0:03:34.545 that have experienced war[br]and displacement. 0:03:35.149,0:03:37.519 Now, to know how to help [br]families that have been 0:03:37.519,0:03:39.959 through conflict, support their children, 0:03:40.244,0:03:41.964 The first step must obviously be 0:03:41.974,0:03:44.744 to ask them what are they [br]struggling with. Right? 0:03:44.914,0:03:46.264 I mean, it seems obvious,[br][br] 0:03:46.414,0:03:48.304 but often those are the [br]most vulnerable 0:03:48.304,0:03:51.494 that we are trying to support that[br]we actually don't ask. 0:03:51.584,0:03:53.394 How many times have we just assumed 0:03:53.394,0:03:56.804 we know exactly the right thing that [br]is gonna help someone or something 0:03:56.804,0:03:58.644 without actually asking them first. 0:03:59.044,0:04:02.334 So i travelled to the refugee camps [br]in Syria and in Turkey. 0:04:03.044,0:04:05.184 And I sat with families and I listened. 0:04:06.254,0:04:08.764 I listened to the parenting challenges 0:04:08.764,0:04:10.654 I listened to the parenting struggles 0:04:10.994,0:04:13.044 And I listened to their call for help 0:04:13.106,0:04:15.666 And sometimes that was [br]just paused 0:04:15.666,0:04:18.506 as all I could was hold hand[br]with them and just join them 0:04:18.506,0:04:19.886 in silence crying and prayer 0:04:19.926,0:04:21.895 So they told me about their struggles 0:04:22.275,0:04:26.505 They told me about the rough, [br]harsh refugee camp condition 0:04:26.905,0:04:30.645 That made it hard to focus on [br]anything but practical chores 0:04:30.645,0:04:32.825 like collecting clean water. 0:04:33.305,0:04:36.075 He told me how they watch their [br]children withdrawn, 0:04:36.175,0:04:40.755 the sadness, depression, anger[br]bed-wetting, thumb sucking 0:04:41.377,0:04:45.667 fear of loud noises, fear of nightmares,[br]terrifying terrifying nightmares. 0:04:46.784,0:04:50.294 These families had been through[br]what we had been watching on the TV. 0:04:51.524,0:04:54.647 The mothers almost half of them were[br]now wisdom of the war 0:04:55.147,0:04:57.857 or didn't even know their husbands[br]were dead or alive, 0:04:57.857,0:05:00.857 described how they thought they[br]were coping so badly 0:05:01.720,0:05:03.600 They watched their children change 0:05:03.600,0:05:05.900 and they had no idea [br]how to help them. 0:05:05.935,0:05:08.995 They didn't know how to answer[br]their children's questions. 0:05:09.605,0:05:12.915 Why I found incredibly [br]astonishing and so motivational 0:05:13.405,0:05:17.365 was that these families was so [br]motivated to support their children 0:05:18.025,0:05:20.134 Despite all these challenges they faced 0:05:20.134,0:05:22.154 they were trying to help their children 0:05:22.639,0:05:25.879 they were making attempts at seeking[br]support from NGO workers 0:05:26.385,0:05:30.385 from refugee camp teachers,[br]professional medics, other parents. 0:05:31.389,0:05:33.889 One mother I met had only been [br]account for 4 days 0:05:34.144,0:05:36.974 and had already made two attempts[br]at seeking support 0:05:37.074,0:05:38.874 for her eight -year-old daughter[br] 0:05:38.874,0:05:41.544 who was having terrifying nightmares. 0:05:42.510,0:05:46.060 But sadly, these attempts are [br]almost always useless. 0:05:46.362,0:05:49.802 Refugee camp doctors when available [br]are almost always too busy or 0:05:49.880,0:05:53.880 don't have the knowledge all[br]the time for basic parenting supports. 0:05:54.495,0:05:58.495 Refugee camp teachers and other [br]parents are just like them 0:05:58.798,0:06:02.798 part of a new refugee community[br]who's struggling with units 0:06:03.039,0:06:07.139 So then we began to think[br]how could we help these families. 0:06:08.639,0:06:12.639 The families were struggling with things[br]much bigger than they could cope with. 0:06:12.837,0:06:16.487 The Syrian crisis made it clear how[br]incredibly impossible it would be 0:06:16.637,0:06:19.107 to reach families on an individual level. 0:06:19.427,0:06:21.717 How else could we help them. 0:06:21.754,0:06:26.424 How would we reach families[br]at a population level and low-cost 0:06:27.871,0:06:31.301 in these terrifying terrifying times. 0:06:31.771,0:06:34.251 After hours of speaking to NGO workers 0:06:34.251,0:06:38.224 one suggested a fantastic innovative[br]idea of distributing 0:06:38.224,0:06:41.894 parenting information leaflets [br]by a bread wrappers. 0:06:41.894,0:06:44.304 Bread wrappers that were being delivered[br]to families 0:06:44.304,0:06:47.774 in a conflict zone in Syria[br]by humanitarian workers 0:06:48.198,0:06:49.628 So that's what we did 0:06:49.893,0:06:52.723 The bread wrappers haven't changed[br]at all in their apperance 0:06:52.927,0:06:55.577 except for the addition of two pieces[br]of paper. 0:06:55.779,0:06:59.779 One was a parenting information leaflet[br]that had basic advice 0:06:59.924,0:07:02.404 and information that normalizes[br]the parent 0:07:02.408,0:07:04.378 what they might be experiencing[br] 0:07:04.397,0:07:06.237 and what their child [br]might be experiencing 0:07:06.237,0:07:08.629 and information on how they [br]could support themselves 0:07:08.779,0:07:10.119 and their children 0:07:10.119,0:07:13.759 such as information like spending time[br]talking to a child 0:07:14.373,0:07:18.373 showing them more affection[br]being more patient with your child 0:07:18.614,0:07:20.424 talking to your children. 0:07:20.424,0:07:22.844 The other piece of paper [br]was a feedback questionnaire 0:07:22.844,0:07:24.861 and of course there was a pen. 0:07:26.002,0:07:29.592 So is this simply leaflet distribution 0:07:29.716,0:07:33.336 or is it actually possible means of[br]delivering psychological first aid 0:07:33.336,0:07:35.115 that provides warm secure 0:07:35.115,0:07:36.405 loving parenting. 0:07:36.405,0:07:40.655 We managed to distribute 3000 of these[br]in just one week. 0:07:41.761,0:07:45.511 was incredible was we had [br]60-percent response rate 0:07:45.511,0:07:49.511 SIxty-percent of the three thousand[br]families responded. 0:07:49.902,0:07:52.312 I didn't know how many reasearches[br]we have here today 0:07:52.412,0:07:54.938 but that kind of response rate[br]is fantastic 0:07:54.938,0:07:58.038 to have this in Manchester[br]would be a huge achivement 0:07:58.158,0:08:00.911 Let alone in a conflict zone in Syria 0:08:00.961,0:08:04.511 really highlighting how important[br]these kind of messages work to families. 0:08:04.641,0:08:06.271 I remember how excited 0:08:06.271,0:08:08.481 and eager we were[br]for the return of the questionnaires 0:08:08.761,0:08:11.146 the families had left hundreds [br]of messages 0:08:11.248,0:08:14.128 most incredibly positive encouraging. 0:08:14.128,0:08:15.758 My favorite has got to be 0:08:15.758,0:08:18.948 "Thank you for not forgetting about us[br]and our children". 0:08:19.949,0:08:23.729 This really illustrates a potential [br]means of the delivery of psychological 0:08:23.732,0:08:27.179 first aid to families and the return of [br]feedback too 0:08:27.179,0:08:29.889 Just imagine replicating this using[br]other means 0:08:29.889,0:08:31.909 such as baby look distribution 0:08:31.913,0:08:35.913 or female hygiene kits [br]or even food baskets 0:08:36.026,0:08:37.906 Let's bring this closer to home 0:08:37.996,0:08:39.606 because the refugee crisis is one[br] 0:08:39.606,0:08:42.316 having an effect on every single one of us 0:08:42.403,0:08:45.223 We're bombarded with images [br]daily of statistics 0:08:45.437,0:08:46.457 and photos 0:08:46.548,0:08:48.668 and that's not surprising 0:08:48.668,0:08:50.088 because by last month 0:08:50.101,0:08:52.871 over 1 million refugees [br]had reached europe 0:08:53.233,0:08:57.333 1 million refugees are joining[br]our communities 0:08:57.393,0:08:59.313 They're becoming our neighbors 0:08:59.399,0:09:01.759 their children are attending our [br]children schools 0:09:01.759,0:09:05.759 So we've adapted the leaflets to [br]meet the needs of European refugees 0:09:06.877,0:09:09.217 and we have them online open access 0:09:09.217,0:09:12.007 and areas with a really high [br]refugee influx. 0:09:12.246,0:09:14.602 For example, the Swedish healthcare[br]uploaded it 0:09:14.602,0:09:16.053 onto their website 0:09:16.053,0:09:17.567 within the first 45 mintutes 0:09:17.567,0:09:19.957 it was downloaded 343 times 0:09:20.413,0:09:23.093 really highlighting how important it is[br]for volunteers, 0:09:23.093,0:09:25.413 practitioners and other parents [br]to have open 0:09:25.579,0:09:28.569 access psychological first aid messages. 0:09:30.461,0:09:36.161 In 2014, I was sitting on the cold [br]harsh floor of a refugee camp tent 0:09:36.477,0:09:40.477 with mother sitting around me as[br]I was conducting a focus group 0:09:40.749,0:09:42.969 across from East, an elderly lady 0:09:43.019,0:09:46.049 with what seemed to be a 13-year-old[br]girl lying beside her, 0:09:46.159,0:09:48.901 with her head on the other ladies knees. 0:09:48.901,0:09:53.041 The girls stayed quiet throughout[br]the focus group not talking at all 0:09:53.281,0:09:55.854 with her knees curled up [br]against her chest. 0:09:56.048,0:09:57.703 Towards the end of the focus group 0:09:57.823,0:10:00.383 and as I was thanking the mothers[br]for their time 0:10:00.812,0:10:03.642 the other lady looked at me while[br]pointing at the young girl 0:10:03.642,0:10:07.062 and said to me:" Can you help us with?" 0:10:07.062,0:10:09.412 not quite sure what she expected[br]me to do 0:10:09.482,0:10:12.452 I looked at the young girl and smiled,[br]in Arabic I said 0:10:12.571,0:10:13.951 (Arabic) 0:10:14.564,0:10:16.234 "What is your name?" 0:10:16.572,0:10:19.022 She looked at me really confused [br]and engaged 0:10:19.299,0:10:21.319 but then said:"Halluan" 0:10:21.751,0:10:25.481 Halluan is the best name for[br]the Arabic female name Halla 0:10:25.684,0:10:28.734 and is only really used to refer[br]to really young girls. 0:10:29.747,0:10:32.967 At that point, I realized that actually[br]Hallo was probably much 0:10:32.967,0:10:37.177 older than thirteen, it turns out Halla [br]was a 25-year-old mother 0:10:37.198,0:10:40.068 to three young children 0:10:40.117,0:10:43.497 Halla had been a confident bright [br]bubby loving caring mother 0:10:43.717,0:10:45.027 to her children. 0:10:45.167,0:10:46.797 But the war had changed all about. 0:10:48.077,0:10:52.077 She had lived through bombs drop[br]being dropped in her town. 0:10:52.283,0:10:54.383 She had lived through explosions, [br] 0:10:54.896,0:10:58.476 when fighter jets were flying around[br]their building dropping bombs, 0:10:58.822,0:11:01.942 her children would be screaming[br]terrified from the noise. 0:11:02.064,0:11:03.877 Halla would frantically grab pillows 0:11:03.877,0:11:06.407 and cover her children's ears to [br]block out the noise. 0:11:06.637,0:11:08.717 all the while screaming herself 0:11:08.822,0:11:10.632 When they reached the refugee camp 0:11:10.632,0:11:13.862 and she knew they were finally [br]in some kind of safety, 0:11:14.006,0:11:15.916 she completely withdrew to acting 0:11:15.916,0:11:18.306 like her old childhood self. 0:11:18.392,0:11:20.142 She completely rejected her family, 0:11:20.995,0:11:23.515 her children, her husband. 0:11:23.828,0:11:26.308 Halla simply could no longer cope. [br] 0:11:27.188,0:11:30.372 Now this is the parenting struggle [br]with a really tough ending 0:11:30.372,0:11:32.502 but sadly, it is not uncommon. 0:11:32.502,0:11:35.132 Those, who experienced armed conflict[br]and displacement 0:11:35.365,0:11:38.125 will face serious emotional struggles 0:11:38.389,0:11:40.649 and that's something we can [br]all relate to. 0:11:41.324,0:11:45.324 If you have been through [br]a devastating time in your life. 0:11:45.735,0:11:49.735 If you have lost someone or something[br]you really care about. 0:11:50.438,0:11:53.028 How would you continue to cope? 0:11:53.123,0:11:56.513 Could you still be able to care [br]for yourself and for your family? 0:11:57.979,0:12:01.373 Given that the first years [br]of child's life are crucial 0:12:01.373,0:12:04.353 for healthy physical and [br]emotional development. 0:12:04.490,0:12:08.900 And that 1.5 billion people are [br]experiencing armed conflict. 0:12:09.299,0:12:12.179 Many of whom are now joining [br]our communities. 0:12:12.217,0:12:14.347 We can not afford to turn a blind eye 0:12:14.403,0:12:17.543 to a need of those who are[br]experiencing war and displacement. 0:12:17.830,0:12:23.090 We must prioritize these family needs [br]to those both burn internally displaced 0:12:23.158,0:12:25.978 and those who are refugees worldwide. 0:12:25.978,0:12:28.268 These needs must be prioritized 0:12:28.590,0:12:32.430 by NGO workers, policy makers, [br]the WHO, the UNHCR 0:12:33.538,0:12:36.858 and every single one of us [br]in whatever capacity, 0:12:36.910,0:12:39.172 it is that we function in society. 0:12:39.172,0:12:43.442 When we begin to recognize the[br]individual phases of the conflict. 0:12:43.816,0:12:47.816 When we begin to notice those[br]intricate emotions on their faces, 0:12:48.501,0:12:51.617 we begin to see them as human too. 0:12:51.617,0:12:54.166 We begin to see the needs [br]of these families. 0:12:54.166,0:12:56.556 and these are the real human needs. 0:12:56.836,0:12:59.676 When these families needs [br]are prioritized 0:12:59.835,0:13:02.795 interventions for children [br]in humanitarian settings 0:13:02.815,0:13:06.815 will prioritize and recognize the[br]primary role of the family 0:13:07.032,0:13:09.022 in supporting children. 0:13:09.237,0:13:12.037 Family mental health will be [br]shouting loud and clear 0:13:12.069,0:13:14.039 in global international agenda 0:13:14.100,0:13:18.100 And children will be less likely [br]to enter social service systems 0:13:18.311,0:13:20.025 and resettlement countries 0:13:20.025,0:13:23.969 because their families would have[br]had support earlier on 0:13:23.969,0:13:26.569 and we will be more open-minded 0:13:26.736,0:13:29.316 more welcoming, more caring [br]and more trusting 0:13:29.506,0:13:31.496 to those who are joining [br]our communities. 0:13:32.946,0:13:35.946 We need to stop wars. 0:13:36.008,0:13:39.498 We need to build a world where[br]children can dream of planes 0:13:39.498,0:13:42.838 dropping gifts and not bombs. 0:13:42.917,0:13:45.357 Until we stop armed conflicts, 0:13:45.480,0:13:49.480 raging throughout the world, families[br]will continue to be displaced 0:13:49.571,0:13:51.389 leaving children vulnerable 0:13:51.389,0:13:54.409 but by improving parenting and [br]caregivers support. 0:13:54.471,0:13:57.091 It may be possible to weaken the links 0:13:57.196,0:13:59.336 between wars and [br]psychological difficulties 0:13:59.786,0:14:01.796 in children and their families. 0:14:01.834,0:14:02.844 Thank you.