0:00:10.371,0:00:11.521 Good morning. 0:00:12.790,0:00:17.950 Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people[br]experience armed conflict. 0:00:19.030,0:00:21.726 In response, people are forced[br]to flee their country, 0:00:21.750,0:00:24.870 leaving over 15 million refugees 0:00:25.670,0:00:27.006 Children, without a doubt, 0:00:27.030,0:00:29.510 are the most innocent[br]and vulnerable victims ... 0:00:30.790,0:00:33.406 but not just from[br]the obvious physical dangers, 0:00:33.430,0:00:37.150 but from the often unspoken effects[br]that wars have on their families. 0:00:38.430,0:00:41.646 The experiences of war[br]leave children at a real high risk 0:00:41.670,0:00:44.589 for the development[br]of emotional and behavioral problems. 0:00:46.110,0:00:47.966 Children, as we can only imagine, 0:00:47.990,0:00:50.070 will feel worried, threatened and at risk. 0:00:50.630,0:00:51.830 But there is good news. 0:00:52.470,0:00:56.206 The quality of care[br]that children receive in their families 0:00:56.230,0:00:59.686 can have a more significant[br]effect on their well-being 0:00:59.710,0:01:03.390 than from the actual experiences of war[br]that they have been exposed to. 0:01:04.510,0:01:07.246 So actually, children can be protected 0:01:07.270,0:01:11.710 by warm, secure parenting[br]during and after conflict. 0:01:13.990,0:01:17.326 In 2011, I was a first-year PhD student 0:01:17.350,0:01:20.550 in the University of Manchester[br]School of Psychological Sciences. 0:01:21.110,0:01:22.566 Like many of you here, 0:01:22.590,0:01:25.590 I watched the crisis in Syria[br]unfold in front of me on the TV. 0:01:26.630,0:01:28.926 My family is originally from Syria, 0:01:28.950,0:01:30.206 and very early on, 0:01:30.230,0:01:32.910 I lost several family members[br]in really horrifying ways. 0:01:33.830,0:01:36.510 I'd sit and I'd gather with my family[br]and watch the TV. 0:01:37.270,0:01:38.686 We've all seen those scenes: 0:01:38.710,0:01:40.766 bombs destroying buildings, 0:01:40.790,0:01:42.230 chaos, destruction 0:01:43.110,0:01:44.682 and people screaming and running. 0:01:45.510,0:01:49.446 It was always the people screaming[br]and running that really got me the most, 0:01:49.470,0:01:51.710 especially those[br]terrified-looking children. 0:01:53.470,0:01:57.166 I was a mother to two young,[br]typically inquisitive children. 0:01:57.190,0:01:58.766 They were five and six then, 0:01:58.790,0:02:01.846 at an age where they typically[br]asked lots and lots of questions, 0:02:01.870,0:02:03.990 and expected real, convincing answers. 0:02:05.190,0:02:07.846 So, I began to wonder[br]what it might be like 0:02:07.870,0:02:11.270 to parent my children[br]in a war zone and a refugee camp. 0:02:12.240,0:02:13.560 Would my children change? 0:02:14.680,0:02:17.880 Would my daughter's bright,[br]happy eyes lose their shine? 0:02:18.520,0:02:23.520 Would my son's really relaxed and carefree[br]nature become fearful and withdrawn? 0:02:24.800,0:02:26.040 How would I cope? 0:02:27.440,0:02:28.640 Would I change? 0:02:30.640,0:02:32.856 As psychologists and parent trainers, 0:02:32.880,0:02:36.776 we know that arming parents[br]with skills in caring for their children 0:02:36.800,0:02:39.360 can have a huge effect[br]on their well-being, 0:02:40.200,0:02:42.080 and we call this parent training. 0:02:42.680,0:02:44.616 The question I had was, 0:02:44.640,0:02:48.376 could parent training programs[br]be useful for families 0:02:48.400,0:02:51.416 while they were still in war zones[br]or refugee camps? 0:02:51.440,0:02:54.016 Could we reach them[br]with advice or training 0:02:54.040,0:02:56.160 that would help them[br]through these struggles? 0:02:57.800,0:03:00.536 So I approached my PhD supervisor, 0:03:00.560,0:03:02.056 Professor Rachel Calam, 0:03:02.080,0:03:06.360 with the idea of using my academic skills[br]to make some change in the real world. 0:03:06.720,0:03:08.959 I wasn't quite sure[br]what exactly I wanted to do. 0:03:09.970,0:03:11.826 She listened carefully and patiently, 0:03:11.850,0:03:13.426 and then to my joy she said, 0:03:13.450,0:03:16.306 "If that's what you want to do,[br]and it means so much to you, 0:03:16.330,0:03:17.586 then let's do it. 0:03:17.610,0:03:20.586 Let's find ways to see if parent programs 0:03:20.610,0:03:22.970 can be useful for families[br]in these contexts." 0:03:23.890,0:03:26.786 So for the past five years,[br]myself and my colleagues -- 0:03:26.810,0:03:29.466 Prof. Calam and Dr. Kim Cartwright -- 0:03:29.490,0:03:31.706 have been working[br]on ways to support families 0:03:31.730,0:03:33.930 that have experienced[br]war and displacement. 0:03:35.570,0:03:38.986 Now, to know how to help families[br]that have been through conflict 0:03:39.010,0:03:40.426 support their children, 0:03:40.450,0:03:44.266 the first step must obviously be[br]to ask them what they're struggling with, 0:03:44.290,0:03:45.506 right? 0:03:45.530,0:03:46.906 I mean, it seems obvious. 0:03:46.930,0:03:49.306 But it's often those[br]that are the most vulnerable, 0:03:49.330,0:03:50.746 that we're trying to support, 0:03:50.770,0:03:52.106 that we actually don't ask. 0:03:52.130,0:03:55.306 How many times have we just assumed[br]we know exactly the right thing 0:03:55.330,0:03:58.970 that's going to help someone or something[br]without actually asking them first? 0:03:59.410,0:04:03.066 So I traveled to refugee camps[br]in Syria and in Turkey, 0:04:03.090,0:04:05.450 and I sat with families, and I listened. 0:04:06.250,0:04:08.986 I listened to their parenting challenges, 0:04:09.010,0:04:11.266 I listened to their parenting struggles 0:04:11.290,0:04:13.506 and I listened to their call for help. 0:04:13.530,0:04:15.546 And sometimes that was just paused, 0:04:15.570,0:04:17.626 as all I could do was hold hands with them 0:04:17.650,0:04:19.850 and just join them[br]in silent crying and prayer. 0:04:20.610,0:04:23.026 They told me about their struggles, 0:04:23.050,0:04:27.176 they told me about the rough,[br]harsh refugee camp conditions 0:04:27.200,0:04:30.415 that made it hard to focus[br]on anything but practical chores 0:04:30.439,0:04:32.240 like collecting clean water. 0:04:32.960,0:04:35.520 They told me how they watched[br]their children withdraw; 0:04:36.280,0:04:39.456 the sadness, depression, anger, 0:04:39.480,0:04:42.656 bed-wetting, thumb-sucking,[br]fear of loud noises, 0:04:42.680,0:04:44.536 fear of nightmares -- 0:04:44.560,0:04:46.280 terrifying, terrifying nightmares. 0:04:47.320,0:04:51.000 These families had been through[br]what we had been watching on the TV. 0:04:51.600,0:04:52.816 The mothers -- 0:04:52.840,0:04:55.016 almost half of them[br]were now widows of war, 0:04:55.040,0:04:57.816 or didn't even know[br]if their husbands were dead or alive -- 0:04:57.840,0:05:00.520 described how they felt[br]they were coping so badly. 0:05:01.840,0:05:05.896 They watched their children change[br]and they had no idea how to help them. 0:05:05.920,0:05:08.880 They didn't know how to answer[br]their children's questions. 0:05:09.750,0:05:13.086 What I found incredibly astonishing[br]and so motivational 0:05:13.110,0:05:18.006 was that these families were[br]so motivated to support their children. 0:05:18.030,0:05:20.446 Despite all these challenges they faced, 0:05:20.470,0:05:22.726 they were trying to help their children. 0:05:22.750,0:05:26.366 They were making attempts[br]at seeking support from NGO workers, 0:05:26.390,0:05:28.286 from refugee camp teachers, 0:05:28.310,0:05:29.526 professional medics, 0:05:29.550,0:05:30.750 other parents. 0:05:31.350,0:05:34.566 One mother I met had only been[br]in a camp for four days, 0:05:34.590,0:05:36.206 and had already made two attempts 0:05:36.230,0:05:38.646 at seeking support[br]for her eight-year-old daughter 0:05:38.670,0:05:40.710 who was having terrifying nightmares. 0:05:42.310,0:05:45.230 But sadly, these attempts[br]are almost always useless. 0:05:45.990,0:05:48.046 Refugee camp doctors, when available, 0:05:48.070,0:05:49.846 are almost always too busy, 0:05:49.870,0:05:53.950 or don't have the knowledge or the time[br]for basic parenting supports. 0:05:54.670,0:05:57.790 Refugee camp teachers and other parents[br]are just like them -- 0:05:58.430,0:06:01.910 part of a new refugee community[br]who's struggling with new needs. 0:06:02.490,0:06:04.690 So then we began to think. 0:06:05.250,0:06:07.610 How could we help these families? 0:06:08.730,0:06:12.866 The families were struggling with things[br]much bigger than they could cope with. 0:06:12.890,0:06:14.586 The Syrian crisis made it clear 0:06:14.610,0:06:19.906 how incredibly impossible it would be[br]to reach families on an individual level. 0:06:19.930,0:06:21.906 How else could we help them? 0:06:21.930,0:06:25.866 How would we reach families[br]at a population level 0:06:25.890,0:06:27.450 and low costs 0:06:28.110,0:06:30.830 in these terrifying, terrifying times? 0:06:31.870,0:06:34.446 After hours of speaking to NGO workers, 0:06:34.470,0:06:36.926 one suggested a fantastic innovative idea 0:06:36.950,0:06:41.966 of distributing parenting[br]information leaflets via bread wrappers -- 0:06:41.990,0:06:46.326 bread wrappers that were being delivered[br]to families in a conflict zone in Syria 0:06:46.350,0:06:47.990 by humanitarian workers. 0:06:48.350,0:06:49.966 So that's what we did. 0:06:49.990,0:06:52.966 The bread wrappers haven't changed[br]at all in their appearance, 0:06:52.990,0:06:55.190 except for the addition[br]of two pieces of paper. 0:06:55.790,0:07:00.686 One was a parenting information leaflet[br]that had basic advice and information 0:07:00.710,0:07:04.126 that normalized to the parent[br]what they might be experiencing, 0:07:04.150,0:07:06.166 and what their child[br]might be experiencing. 0:07:06.190,0:07:10.006 And information on how they could[br]support themselves and their children, 0:07:10.030,0:07:14.246 such as information like spending[br]time talking to your child, 0:07:14.270,0:07:16.366 showing them more affection, 0:07:16.390,0:07:18.446 being more patient with your child, 0:07:18.470,0:07:20.286 talking to your children. 0:07:20.310,0:07:22.886 The other piece of paper[br]was a feedback questionnaire, 0:07:22.910,0:07:24.510 and of course, there was a pen. 0:07:26.050,0:07:29.546 So is this simply leaflet distribution, 0:07:29.570,0:07:33.386 or is this actually a possible means[br]of delivering psychological first aid 0:07:33.410,0:07:36.466 that provides warm,[br]secure, loving parenting? 0:07:36.490,0:07:40.570 We managed to distribute[br]3,000 of these in just one week. 0:07:42.050,0:07:45.706 What was incredible was[br]we had a 60 percent response rate. 0:07:45.730,0:07:49.946 60 percent of the 3,000[br]families responded. 0:07:49.970,0:07:52.466 I don't know how many[br]researchers we have here today, 0:07:52.490,0:07:54.826 but that kind of response[br]rate is fantastic. 0:07:54.850,0:07:58.106 To have that in Manchester[br]would be a huge achievement, 0:07:58.130,0:08:00.826 let alone in a conflict zone in Syria -- 0:08:00.850,0:08:04.570 really highlighting how important[br]these kinds of messages were to families. 0:08:05.190,0:08:09.046 I remember how excited and eager we were[br]for the return of the questionnaires. 0:08:09.070,0:08:11.566 The families had left[br]hundreds of messages -- 0:08:11.590,0:08:13.966 most incredibly positive and encouraging. 0:08:13.990,0:08:15.726 But my favorite has got to be, 0:08:15.750,0:08:18.750 "Thank you for not forgetting[br]about us and our children." 0:08:20.190,0:08:22.246 This really illustrates[br]the potential means 0:08:22.270,0:08:25.046 of the delivery of psychological[br]first aid to families, 0:08:25.070,0:08:27.166 and the return of feedback, too. 0:08:27.190,0:08:29.686 Just imagine replicating this[br]using other means 0:08:29.710,0:08:34.286 such as baby milk distribution,[br]or female hygiene kits, 0:08:34.310,0:08:35.590 or even food baskets. 0:08:35.861,0:08:37.576 But let's bring this closer to home, 0:08:37.600,0:08:38.896 because the refugee crisis 0:08:38.920,0:08:42.336 is one that is having an effect[br]on every single one of us. 0:08:42.360,0:08:46.975 We're bombarded with images daily[br]of statistics and of photos, 0:08:46.999,0:08:48.576 and that's not surprising, 0:08:48.600,0:08:49.855 because by last month, 0:08:49.879,0:08:52.976 over one million refugees[br]had reached Europe. 0:08:53.000,0:08:54.200 One million. 0:08:54.800,0:08:57.936 Refugees are joining our communities, 0:08:57.960,0:08:59.456 they're becoming our neighbors, 0:08:59.480,0:09:01.960 their children are attending[br]our children's schools. 0:09:03.120,0:09:06.680 So we've adapted the leaflet[br]to meet the needs of European refugees, 0:09:07.440,0:09:09.776 and we have them online, open-access, 0:09:09.800,0:09:12.426 in areas with a really high[br]refugee influx. 0:09:12.450,0:09:15.666 For example, the Swedish healthcare[br]uploaded it onto their website, 0:09:15.690,0:09:17.386 and within the first 45 minutes, 0:09:17.410,0:09:19.727 it was downloaded 343 times -- 0:09:20.490,0:09:22.386 really highlighting how important it is 0:09:22.410,0:09:24.946 for volunteers, practitioners[br]and other parents 0:09:24.970,0:09:27.890 to have open-access,[br]psychological first-aid messages. 0:09:30.290,0:09:36.466 In 2013, I was sitting on the cold,[br]hard floor of a refugee camp tent 0:09:36.490,0:09:39.570 with mothers sitting around me[br]as I was conducting a focus group. 0:09:40.480,0:09:42.776 Across from me stood an elderly lady 0:09:42.800,0:09:46.256 with what seemed to be[br]a 13-year-old girl lying beside her, 0:09:46.280,0:09:48.560 with her head on the elderly lady's knees. 0:09:49.120,0:09:51.896 The girl stayed quiet[br]throughout the focus group, 0:09:51.920,0:09:53.216 not talking at all, 0:09:53.240,0:09:55.360 with her knees[br]curled up against her chest. 0:09:56.080,0:09:57.776 Towards the end of the focus group, 0:09:57.800,0:10:00.776 and as I was thanking[br]the mothers for their time, 0:10:00.800,0:10:03.776 the elderly lady looked at me[br]while pointing at the young girl, 0:10:03.800,0:10:06.200 and said to me, "Can you help us with...?" 0:10:07.120,0:10:09.496 Not quite sure what she expected me to do, 0:10:09.520,0:10:11.376 I looked at the young girl and smiled, 0:10:11.400,0:10:12.776 and in Arabic I said, 0:10:12.800,0:10:14.816 "Salaam alaikum. Shu-ismak?" 0:10:14.840,0:10:16.040 "What's your name?" 0:10:16.760,0:10:19.496 She looked at me really[br]confused and unengaged, 0:10:19.520,0:10:21.120 but then said, "Halul." 0:10:21.880,0:10:26.416 Halul is the pet's name[br]for the Arabic female name, Hala, 0:10:26.440,0:10:29.320 and is only really used[br]to refer to really young girls. 0:10:30.360,0:10:34.000 At that point I realized that actually[br]Hala was probably much older than 13. 0:10:34.840,0:10:39.120 It turns out Hala was a 25-year-old[br]mother to three young children. 0:10:39.960,0:10:43.936 Hala had been a confident,[br]bright, bubbly, loving, caring mother 0:10:43.960,0:10:45.176 to her children, 0:10:45.200,0:10:47.160 but the war had changed all of that. 0:10:48.040,0:10:52.416 She had lived through bombs[br]being dropped in her town; 0:10:52.440,0:10:54.880 she had lived through explosions. 0:10:55.480,0:10:57.936 When fighter jets[br]were flying around their building, 0:10:57.960,0:10:59.176 dropping bombs, 0:10:59.200,0:11:01.936 her children would be screaming,[br]terrified from the noise. 0:11:01.960,0:11:05.056 Hala would frantically grab pillows[br]and cover her children's ears 0:11:05.080,0:11:06.456 to block out the noise, 0:11:06.480,0:11:08.040 all the while screaming herself. 0:11:09.070,0:11:10.766 When they reached the refugee camp 0:11:10.790,0:11:14.006 and she knew they were finally[br]in some kind of safety, 0:11:14.030,0:11:17.430 she completely withdrew[br]to acting like her old childhood self. 0:11:18.070,0:11:20.150 She completely rejected her family -- 0:11:21.470,0:11:23.430 her children, her husband. 0:11:24.190,0:11:26.310 Hala simply could no longer cope. 0:11:27.590,0:11:30.486 This is a parenting struggle[br]with a really tough ending, 0:11:30.510,0:11:32.326 but sadly, it's not uncommon. 0:11:32.350,0:11:35.326 Those who experience[br]armed conflict and displacement 0:11:35.350,0:11:37.950 will face serious emotional struggles. 0:11:38.610,0:11:40.650 And that's something we can all relate to. 0:11:41.810,0:11:44.810 If you have been through[br]a devastating time in your life, 0:11:45.490,0:11:49.130 if you have lost someone[br]or something you really care about, 0:11:50.290,0:11:52.370 how would you continue to cope? 0:11:53.570,0:11:56.690 Could you still be able[br]to care for yourself and for your family? 0:11:58.370,0:12:01.506 Given that the first years[br]of a child's life are crucial 0:12:01.530,0:12:04.786 for healthy physical[br]and emotional development, 0:12:04.810,0:12:09.786 and that 1.5 billion people[br]are experiencing armed conflict -- 0:12:09.810,0:12:12.506 many of whom are now[br]joining our communities -- 0:12:12.530,0:12:14.426 we cannot afford to turn a blind eye 0:12:14.450,0:12:17.706 to the needs of those[br]who are experiencing war and displacement. 0:12:17.730,0:12:20.186 We must prioritize[br]these families' needs -- 0:12:20.210,0:12:25.050 both those who are internally displaced,[br]and those who are refugees worldwide. 0:12:26.010,0:12:31.026 These needs must be prioritized[br]by NGO workers, policy makers, 0:12:31.050,0:12:35.346 the WHO, the UNHCR[br]and every single one of us 0:12:35.370,0:12:38.770 in whatever capacity it is[br]that we function in our society. 0:12:38.980,0:12:44.156 When we begin to recognize[br]the individual faces of the conflict, 0:12:44.180,0:12:48.676 when we begin to notice[br]those intricate emotions on their faces, 0:12:48.700,0:12:50.580 we begin to see them as humans, too. 0:12:51.250,0:12:54.065 We begin to see[br]the needs of these families, 0:12:54.089,0:12:55.769 and these are the real human needs. 0:12:57.160,0:12:59.856 When these family needs are prioritized, 0:12:59.880,0:13:03.176 interventions for children[br]in humanitarian settings 0:13:03.200,0:13:08.480 will prioritize and recognize the primary[br]role of the family in supporting children. 0:13:09.160,0:13:11.736 Family mental health[br]will be shouting loud and clear 0:13:11.760,0:13:13.520 in global, international agenda. 0:13:14.400,0:13:18.096 And children will be less likely[br]to enter social service systems 0:13:18.120,0:13:19.696 in resettlement countries 0:13:19.720,0:13:22.400 because their families[br]would have had support earlier on. 0:13:23.840,0:13:26.576 And we will be more open-minded, 0:13:26.600,0:13:28.416 more welcoming, more caring 0:13:28.440,0:13:31.920 and more trusting to those[br]who are joining our communities. 0:13:33.120,0:13:35.320 We need to stop wars. 0:13:36.040,0:13:40.696 We need to build a world where children[br]can dream of planes dropping gifts, 0:13:40.720,0:13:41.960 and not bombs. 0:13:42.640,0:13:46.696 Until we stop armed conflicts[br]raging throughout the world, 0:13:46.720,0:13:49.416 families will continue to be displaced, 0:13:49.440,0:13:50.800 leaving children vulnerable. 0:13:51.400,0:13:54.456 But by improving parenting[br]and caregiver support, 0:13:54.480,0:13:59.736 it may be possible to weaken the links[br]between war and psychological difficulties 0:13:59.760,0:14:01.680 in children and their families. 0:14:02.160,0:14:03.376 Thank you. 0:14:03.400,0:14:06.779 (Applause)