0:00:00.786,0:00:05.970 Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people[br]experience armed conflict. 0:00:06.940,0:00:08.074 In response, 0:00:08.074,0:00:10.004 people are forced to flee their country, 0:00:10.004,0:00:13.005 leaving over 15 million refugees. 0:00:13.720,0:00:14.721 Children, 0:00:14.721,0:00:15.721 without a doubt, 0:00:15.721,0:00:18.811 are the most innocent[br]and vulnerable victims ... 0:00:18.811,0:00:21.502 but not just from the obvious[br]physical dangers, 0:00:21.502,0:00:25.600 but from the often unspoken effects[br]that wars have on their families. 0:00:26.563,0:00:29.797 The experiences of war[br]leave children at a real high risk 0:00:29.797,0:00:32.948 for the development of emotional[br]and behavioral problems. 0:00:34.104,0:00:36.096 Children, as we can only imagine, 0:00:36.096,0:00:38.821 will feel worried, threatened and at risk. 0:00:38.821,0:00:40.545 But there is good news. 0:00:40.545,0:00:44.396 The quality of care that children[br]receive in their families 0:00:44.396,0:00:47.916 can have a more significant[br]affect on their well-being 0:00:47.916,0:00:51.800 than from the actual experiences of war[br]that they have been exposed to. 0:00:52.582,0:00:53.576 So actually, 0:00:53.576,0:00:58.296 children can be protected[br]by warm, secure parenting 0:00:58.296,0:01:00.255 during and after conflict. 0:01:02.157,0:01:05.518 In 2011, I was a first-year PhD student 0:01:05.518,0:01:08.964 in the University of Manchester[br]School of Psychological Sciences. 0:01:09.303,0:01:10.809 Like many of you here, 0:01:10.809,0:01:14.061 I watched the crisis in Syria unfold[br]in front of me on the TV. 0:01:14.728,0:01:17.139 My family is originally from Syria, 0:01:17.139,0:01:18.142 and very early on, 0:01:18.142,0:01:21.236 I lost several family members[br]in really horrifying ways. 0:01:21.961,0:01:25.480 I'd sit and I'd gather with my family[br]and watch the TV. 0:01:25.480,0:01:27.106 So we've all seen those scenes -- 0:01:27.106,0:01:28.848 bombs destroying buildings, 0:01:28.848,0:01:31.246 chaos, destruction 0:01:31.246,0:01:33.390 and people screaming and running. 0:01:33.640,0:01:37.740 It was always the people screaming[br]and running that really got me the most, 0:01:37.740,0:01:40.431 especially those[br]terrified-looking children. 0:01:41.617,0:01:45.383 I was a mother to two young,[br]typically inquisitive children. 0:01:45.383,0:01:46.962 They were five and six then, 0:01:46.962,0:01:49.966 at an age where they typically asked[br]lots and lots of questions, 0:01:49.966,0:01:53.493 and expected real convincing answers. 0:01:53.493,0:01:55.911 So, I began to wonder[br]what it might be like 0:01:55.911,0:01:59.472 to parent my children in a war zone[br]and a refugee camp. 0:02:00.337,0:02:02.330 Would my children change? 0:02:02.805,0:02:06.821 Would my daughter's bright[br]happy eyes lose their shine? 0:02:06.821,0:02:11.741 Would my son's really relaxed and carefree[br]nature become fearful and withdrawn? 0:02:12.946,0:02:14.725 How would I cope? 0:02:15.592,0:02:17.435 Would I change? 0:02:18.821,0:02:21.158 As psychologists and parent trainers, 0:02:21.158,0:02:25.004 we know that arming parents with skills[br]in caring for their children 0:02:25.004,0:02:28.569 can have a huge effect[br]on their well-being, 0:02:28.569,0:02:30.745 and we call this parent training. 0:02:30.989,0:02:32.906 The question I had was, 0:02:32.906,0:02:36.652 could parent training programs[br]be useful for families 0:02:36.652,0:02:39.480 while they were still in war zones[br]or refugee camps? 0:02:39.806,0:02:42.288 Could we reach them[br]with advice or training 0:02:42.288,0:02:44.838 that would help them[br]through these struggles? 0:02:45.976,0:02:48.884 So, I approached my PhD supervisor, 0:02:48.884,0:02:50.456 Professor Rachel Calam, 0:02:50.456,0:02:54.444 with the idea of using my academic skills[br]to make some change in the real world. 0:02:54.962,0:02:57.644 I wasn't quite sure what[br]exactly I wanted to do. 0:02:58.235,0:03:00.100 She listened carefully and patiently, 0:03:00.100,0:03:01.823 and then to my joy she said, 0:03:01.823,0:03:03.322 "If that's what you want to do, 0:03:03.322,0:03:04.682 and it means so much to you, 0:03:04.682,0:03:05.930 then let's do it. 0:03:05.930,0:03:08.940 Let's find ways to see if parent programs 0:03:08.940,0:03:11.751 can be useful for families[br]in these contexts." 0:03:12.334,0:03:13.502 So for the past five years, 0:03:13.671,0:03:15.084 myself and my colleagues -- 0:03:15.261,0:03:17.775 Professor [Kalem] and Dr. Kim [Cartwright] 0:03:17.969,0:03:19.970 have been working on ways[br]to support families 0:03:20.145,0:03:22.531 that have experienced[br]war and displacement. 0:03:23.770,0:03:27.242 Now, to know how to help families[br]that have been through conflict 0:03:27.474,0:03:28.682 support their children, 0:03:28.919,0:03:32.567 the first step must obviously be[br]to ask them what they're struggling with, 0:03:32.770,0:03:33.630 right? 0:03:33.860,0:03:35.196 I mean, it seems obvious. 0:03:35.410,0:03:37.234 But it's often those[br]that are the most vulnerable 0:03:37.408,0:03:38.225 that we're trying to support 0:03:38.429,0:03:39.974 that we actually don't ask. 0:03:40.236,0:03:42.827 How many times have we just assumed[br]we know exactly the right thing 0:03:42.996,0:03:47.019 that's going to help someone or something[br]without actually asking them first? 0:03:47.702,0:03:51.402 So I travelled to refugee camps[br]in Syria and in Turkey, 0:03:51.587,0:03:52.623 and I sat with families, 0:03:52.827,0:03:54.361 and I listened. 0:03:54.651,0:03:57.217 I listened to their parenting challenges, 0:03:57.388,0:03:59.661 I listened to their parenting struggles, 0:03:59.833,0:04:01.838 and I listened to their call for help. 0:04:02.072,0:04:03.908 And sometimes that was just [paused], 0:04:04.112,0:04:05.711 as all I could do was[br]hold hands with them, 0:04:05.913,0:04:08.929 and just join them in silent[br]crying and prayer. 0:04:09.139,0:04:11.339 They told me about their struggles, 0:04:11.549,0:04:15.072 they told me about the rough,[br]harsh refugee camp conditions 0:04:15.249,0:04:18.243 that made it hard to focus on anything[br]but practical chores 0:04:18.420,0:04:20.534 like collecting clean water. 0:04:20.914,0:04:24.161 They told me how they watched[br]their children withdraw; 0:04:24.359,0:04:27.167 the sadness, depression, anger, 0:04:27.386,0:04:30.478 bed-wetting, thumb-sucking,[br]fear of loud noises, 0:04:30.645,0:04:32.414 fear of nightmares -- 0:04:32.607,0:04:34.683 terrifying, terrifying nightmares. 0:04:34.749,0:04:38.611 These families had been through[br]what we had been watching on the TV. 0:04:39.564,0:04:40.571 The mothers, 0:04:40.719,0:04:42.915 almost half of them were now[br]widows of war, 0:04:43.074,0:04:45.758 or didn't even know if their husbands[br]were dead or alive, 0:04:45.917,0:04:49.645 described how they thought they[br]were coping so badly. 0:04:49.962,0:04:51.265 They watched their children change, 0:04:51.434,0:04:53.544 and they had no idea how to help them. 0:04:53.784,0:04:57.564 They didn't know how to answer[br]their children's questions. 0:04:57.756,0:04:59.404 What I found incredibly astonishing, 0:04:59.575,0:05:00.982 and so motivational, 0:05:01.191,0:05:05.889 was that these families were so motivated[br]to support their children 0:05:06.072,0:05:08.433 despite all these challenges they faced, 0:05:08.567,0:05:10.490 they were trying to help their children. 0:05:10.823,0:05:14.252 They were making attempts at seeking[br]support from NGO workers, 0:05:14.506,0:05:16.131 from refugee camp teachers, 0:05:16.338,0:05:17.534 professional medics, 0:05:17.735,0:05:18.958 other parents. 0:05:19.285,0:05:22.535 One mother I met had only been[br]in a camp for four days, 0:05:22.786,0:05:24.150 and had already made two attempts 0:05:24.384,0:05:26.465 at seeking support for[br]her eight-year-old daughter 0:05:26.668,0:05:29.382 who was having terrifying nightmares. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But sadly, these attempts[br]are almost always useless. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Refugee camp doctors, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when available, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 are almost always too busy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or don't have the knowledge or the time[br]for basic parenting supports. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Refugee camp teachers and other parents[br]are just like them -- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 part of new refugee community[br]who's struggling with new needs. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So then we began to think. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How could we help these families? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The families were struggling with things[br]much bigger than they could cope with. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The Syrian crisis made it clear how[br]incredibly impossible it would be 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to reach families on an individual level. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How else could we help them? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How would reach families[br]at a population level, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and at low costs 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in these terrifying, terrifying times. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 After hours of speaking to NGO workers, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 one suggested a fantastic, innovative idea 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of distributing parenting[br]information leaflets via breadwrappers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Bread wrappers that were being delivered[br]to famlies in a conflict zone in Syria 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 by humanitarian workers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So that's what we did. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The bread wrappers haven't changed[br]at all in their appearance, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 except for the addition[br]of two pieces of paper. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One was a parenting information leaflet[br]that had basic advice 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and information[br]that normalized to the parent 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what they might be experiencing 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and what their child[br]might be experiencing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And information on how they could[br]support themselves and their children, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 such as information like spending[br]time talking to your child, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 showing them more affection, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 being more patient with your child, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 talking to your children. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The other piece of paper[br]was a feedback questionnaire, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and of course, there was a pen. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So is this simply leaflet distribution, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or is this actually a possible means[br]of delievering psychological first-aid 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that provides warm, secure,[br]loving parenting? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We managed to distribute 3,000[br]of these in just one week. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What was incredible was we had[br]a 60 percent response rate. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 60 percent of the 3,0000[br]families responded. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don't know how many researchers[br]we have here today, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but that kind of response rate[br]is fantastic. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 To have that in Manchester would be[br]a huge achievement, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 let alone in a conflict zone in Syria -- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 really highlighting how important[br]these kinds of messages were to families. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I remember how excited and eager we were[br]for the return of the questionnaires. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The families had left[br]hundreds of messages -- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 most incredibly positive and encouraging. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But my favorite has got to be, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "Thank you for not forgetting[br]about us and our children." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This really illustrates[br]the potential means 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of the delievery of psychological[br]first-aid to families, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and the return of feedback, too. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Just imagine replicating this[br]using other means, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 such as baby milk distribution, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or female hygeine kits, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or even food baskets. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But let's bring this closer to home, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because the refugee crisis 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is one that is having an effect[br]on every singly one of us. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We're bombarded with images daily[br]of statistics and of photos, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and that's not surprising, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because by last month, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 over one million refugees[br]had reached Europe. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One million. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Refugees are joining our communities, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they're becoming our neighbors, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 their children are attending[br]our children's schools. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we've adapted the leaflet to meet[br]the needs of European refugees, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and we have them online,[br]open-access, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in areas with a really high[br]refugee influx. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 For example, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the Swedish Healthcare uploaded it[br]onto their website, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and within the first 45 minutes, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it was downloaded 343 times -- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 really highlighting how important it is[br]for volunteers, practitioners, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and other parents 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to have open-access, psychological[br]first-aid messages. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In 2013, I was sitting on the cold[br]hard floor of a refugee camp tent 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with mothers sitting around me 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as I was conducting a focus group. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Across from me stood an elederly lady 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with what seemed to be[br]a 13-year-old girl lying beside her, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with her head on her elderly lady's knees. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The girl stayed quiet[br]throughout the focus group, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 not talking at all, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with her knees curled up[br]against her chest. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Towards the end of the focus group, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and as I was thanking[br]the mothers for their time, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the elderly lady looked at me[br]while point at the young girl, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and said to me, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "Can you help us with...?" 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Not quite sure what she expected me to do, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I looked at the young girl and smiled, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and in Arabic I said, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "Salaam Alaikum, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 mā ismak?" 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "What's your name?" 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She looked at me really[br]confused and unengaged, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but then said, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "Halul." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Halul is the pet's name for the Arabic[br]female name, Hala, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and is only really used to refer[br]to really young girls. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 At that point I realized that actually[br]Hala was probably much older than 13. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It turns out Hala was a 25-year-old mother[br]to three young children. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Hala had been a confident, bright,[br]bubbly, loving, caring mother 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to her children, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but the war had changed all of that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She had lived through bombs[br]being dropped in her town; 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 she had lived through explosions. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When fighter jets were flying[br]around their building, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 dropping bombs, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 her children would be screaming, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 terrified from the noise. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Hala would frantically grab pillows[br]and cover her children's ears 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to block out the noise, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 all the while screaming herself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When they reached the refugee camp, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and she knew they were finally[br]in some kind of safety, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 she completely withdrew to acting[br]like her old childhood self. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She compeltely rejected her family... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 her children, her husband. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Hala simply could no longer cope. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is a parenting struggle[br]with a really tough ending, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but sadly, it's not uncommon. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Those who experience armed[br]conflict and displacement 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 will face serious emotional stuggles. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that's something we can all relate to. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 If you have been through[br]a devastating time in your life, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 if you have lost someone or something[br]you really care about, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 how would you continue to cope? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Could you still be able to care[br]for yourself and for your family? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Given that the first years[br]of a child's life are crucial 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for healthy physical[br]and emotional development, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and that 1.5 billion people[br]are experiencing armed conflict, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 many of whom are now[br]joining our communities, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we cannot afford to turn a bline eye 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to the needs of those who[br]are experiencing war and displacement. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We must prioritize these family needs[br]to those who were internally displaced, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and those are are refugees worldwide. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 These needs must be prioritized[br]by NGO workers, policy makers, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the WHO, the UNHCL[br]and every single one of us 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in whatever capacity it is[br]that we function in a society. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When we begin to recognize[br]the individual faces of the conflict, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when we begin to notice those intricate[br]emotions on their faces, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we begin to see them as humans, too. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We begin to see the needs[br]of these families, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and these are the real human needs. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When these family needs are prioritized, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 interventions for children[br]in humanitarian settings 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 will prioritize and recognize the primary[br]role of the family in supporting children. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Family mental health will be[br]shouting loud and clear 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in global, international agenda. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And children will be less likely to enter[br]social service systems 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in resettlement counties 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because their families would have had[br]support earlier on. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we will be more open-minded, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 more welcoming, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 more caring 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and more trusting to those who[br]are joining our communities. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We need to stop wars. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We need to build a world where children[br]can dream of planes dropping gifts, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and not bombs. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Until we stop armed conflicts[br]raging throughout the world, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 families will continue to be displaced, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 leaving children vulnerable. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But by improving parenting[br]and caregiver support, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it may be possible to weaken the links[br]between war and psychological difficulties 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in children and their families. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Thank you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Applause)