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The areas of relevance to the participants and the program objectives: First, how humans - children and their families - cope with ongoing threats, as well as the impact of long term threats, repeated exposure to trauma, and warfare and its aftermath. Second, the importance of cultural considerations and sensitivities related to the expression of symptoms, evaluation and treatment. Third, questions about whether there is a post warfare and terrorism mental syndrome. Fourth, issues of preparation/readiness including community preparedness, training of responders, development of family and school plans, and consideration of developmental needs. Fifth, response at the time of terrorist attacks and warfare including immediate needs, expectable reactions successful coping and worrisome reactions. Sixth, recovery including reduction, persistence or worsening of symptoms, as well as development of new symptoms. Seventh, when and how to carry out mental health evaluations and treatment taking into account developmental considerations, cultural values and resources. Eighth, resilience including the important components of successful coping and resilience, how resilience differs from resistance, and long term implications of resilience. Ninth, the needs of responders including respectful training of indigenous practitioners, compassionate reactions, counter transference and burnout, concerns about safety, family safety and family worries, and management of stress and personal difficulties. Tenth, issues of hope, altruism, spirituality and personal meaning with individual's wishes to know where they are going - going forward to something - while knowing where they have been and integrating the traumas they have experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying and analysing the mental health indicators of trauma - including emotional, relationship, behavioural, somatic and cognitive components - Different approaches towards the professional treatment of trauma in children and adolescents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are traumatized by community and domestic violence exposure as victims and witnesses. Information on the effects of violence exposure on children will be presented including developmental implications, resultant behaviors, and the most extreme reaction, posttraumatic stress disorder. Parental and caregiver traumatization will also be discussed. Prevention and early intervention is very important both to reduce exposure to violence and to reach children shortly after exposure. Therefore, the role of the mental health professional as an interventionist with first responders such as law enforcement will be discussed as a way to reach traumatized children earlier. A model for mental health professionals to develop collaborations with judges and lawyers who work in juvenile court will be presented. The conclusion will describe ways to provide education and relevant information to police and the court on how to help traumatized children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of post-conflict trauma on the well-being of young people and on the future development and security of Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia.

Slovakia is at the heart of the whirlpool of the communist past and a reunified Europe. I was delighted to welcome specialist particpants from so many different cultures and experiences to my country, both as a mother and as a doctor at the Child Psychiatry Hospital of Bratislava. This meeting identified ways of ensuring that a child would keep happy memories of childhood and would not allow traumatic experiences of war and terrorism to harm their adult life. It was held symbolically in the Slovak Academy of Sciences Castle of Smolenice – just the place where, in a child's fairytale, the king and queen will live happily ever after in a perfect world when the forces of good have overcome the forces of evil.. But can this ideal ever come true? A life at peace is the basis for the success of every human endeavor. Unfortunately, this peace is threatened by wars, ideological extremism, the class struggle, political conflict, terrorism, rape, murder, injustice.. in Slovakia and many countires, by the sudden economic changes of transition .. and, everywhere in the world, man's unbridled desire for power over other men.. NATO was founded to maintain peace in Europe – and now beyond – at the same time as the Mouvement Mondial des Mères/World Movement of Mothers. The MMM helps mothers fulfil all their responsibilities, particularly building peace, in the family and outside the home. Thanks to these two organisations this meeting developed ways in which a child's fairytale future might come true.. Anna Kovacova, MuDr, NATO Partner Co-Director Prevention of violence to children and the protection of their rights is the duty of every adult. But most adults do not know how to offer appropriate support. This meeting, which brought together for the first time scientists and lay people with practical experience, looked not only at practical measures to engage and train concerned adults and adolescents, but also at changing the attitudes which lead to the abuse of children. As a Belgian, trying to come to terms with the discovery of a paedophile network in the heart our society, I feel very strongly the need for coordinated local, national and international initiatives and guidelines to prevent and remedy trauma to children. Mia Vanderhasselt, NATO Co-Director [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses models from Belarus, Russia and the U.S. on working with young people as partners to reduce the effects of trauma in children. It outlines several practical steps that are deemed important for the success of addressing trauma in children. Three protective factors that help youth shift their lives from risk to resilience have been identified were identified in resilience studies. Participatory interventions designed by youth who have experienced trauma are described.

Brief definition of the elements that are specific for the Post-Conflict Trauma of Serbian children and adolescents who are 12-15 years old. Serbian children were exposed to chronic, long term flooding with uncertainty and anxiety caused by both external events and through their parents who were going through life, health, and financially threatening experiences. As a consequence of a long lasting crisis, the parents, as well as the other institutions of society, failed to provide enough containment and support for children and adolescents in this very vulnerable developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A roundtable discussion among experts about developing strategies for dealing with psychological trauma in Serbian children is presented. The participants talked about the role of mothers in the recovery of children, the significance of forgiveness to reducing trauma and the deprivation of traumatized children from their childhood. They also discussed issues regarding stress, resilience and the relationship between parents and children and teachers and children.

The article analyzes the limitations and opportunities learned from the development of a general strategy for preventing, mitigating and remedying trauma in Serbian children and recognizes the developmental considerations and cultural sensitivities involved in the process. It presents the different proposals for developing a general strategy and offers information on the important elements which are significant to adopting a strategy of general guidelines. It also outlines the role of the media in each context of the guidelines.

The article outlines the action steps in the Consensus Serbian Strategy, which is designed to address the health effects of trauma on children, adolescents and adults in Serbia. It presents measures to help traumatized adolescents and mentions significant tools which may be useful in the process. Educational topics for inclusion in counseling services for traumatized parents and their children are recommended. Steps to improve training for school psychologists and pedagogists and communication between adolescents, parents and schools are also suggested.

The article discusses the impact of terrorism on children and adolescents in Algeria. The children in Algeria are also victims of the Fatwa and children of the terrorists are victims of their fathers' violent behavior. Terrorism had negative effects on the emotions and mental health of children. The two levels of dealing with the subject of violence and trauma as to the question of coping mechanisms needed by children are also discussed.

The author emphasizes the importance of using educational institutions for raising awareness about trauma in children and for the post-conflict recovery of children in Serbia. According to the author, empowering the teaching profession leads to increase in self-confidence and preparedness to initiate programs to reduce or remedy trauma. The author also believes in the significance of improving personal contact with resources within the community. The author recommends voluntary work for helping young people with resilience.

The aim of this session was to identify potential resources – people, places, infrastructures, agencies - by examining practical activities in the family and in the community to mitigate and deal with trauma in children and adolescents. Introduction – Trauma in Young children - Working with the police and judiciary – Building resilience in the family - [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines recommendations for dealing with trauma in children that must be conveyed to international and national policy makers for the security and stability of member states and partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and nations throughout the world. There is a need to implement the Consensus Strategy of Activities for Serbia. For NATO and Serbia, further advanced research workshops in several areas are also needed.

The article introduces topics discussed within the second part of the book, including strategies to deal with the responses of Serbian children to trauma, the training required by member of the community and mental health professionals in dealing with the children and measures to ensure the well-being and social attitudes of the children.