Contact: Gail Short205-934-8931/[email protected]
STORY: After a natural disaster like the earthquake in Seattle, there is so much focus on the disaster that young children may not get the emotional support they need, says University of Alabama at Birmingham counseling expert Bill Crunk, Ph.D. "Often with these kinds of events, everyone is disturbed and there is so much focus on the disaster itself that people aren't really able to attend to one another."
WHO: Bill Crunk, Ph.D., is an associate professor of human studies at the UAB School of Education.
WHAT: "Children are going to be scared and worried because they don't understand what has happened," said Crunk. He encourages parents to watch their children for any signs of stress or changes in behavior. Children may, for instance, have nightmares or begin acting out. Also, it's important that parents allow their children to talk about what's happened and about how they feel. "Let them talk about being scared. They may ask whether the earthquake can happen again. Listen to them rather than just telling them that everything is going to be OK."
CALL: For interviews, call Gail Short, UAB Media Relations at 205-934-8931/[email protected].
FYI: We are UAB, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Please use our full name on first reference and UAB thereafter. We are not to be confused with the University of Alabama, which is a separate, independent campus.
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