Psychosocial support
This section looks at general issues regarding psychosocial support for orphans and other vulnerable children. Other sections look in more detail at the psychosocial effects of HIV/AIDS and various responses to these. Key points about psychosocial support for orphans and other vulnerable children are:
- Activities that support orphans and other vulnerable children need to do more than simply meet their physical needs. They also need to address their psychological needs and needs for social interaction. These are termed psychosocial needs.
- HIV/AIDS has a wide range of psychosocial effects on children and young people.
- There are several important principles for responding effectively to the psychosocial needs of orphans and other vulnerable children. These have been identified from practical experience.
- One of the most important of these principles is that children are best cared for in their own communities. Institutions are particularly poor at providing for children's psychosocial needs.
- Children living with HIV/AIDS may have particular psychosocial needs. Adults who provide care for orphans and other vulnerable children also have psychosocial needs.
What is Psychosocial Support?
Psychosocial support has been defined as an ongoing process of meeting emotional, social, mental and spiritual needs, all of which are considered essential elements of meaningful and positive human development. It goes beyond simply meeting children's physical needs. It places great emphasis on children's psychological and emotional needs, and their need for social interaction. Many programmes of support for orphans and other vulnerable children have focused almost completely on their physical needs only. Programmes which aim to meet the psychosocial and physical needs of a child are called holistic.
Orphans and other vulnerable children require psychosocial support because of the trauma and stress they have experienced. Trauma is an emotional shock that produces long-lasting, harmful effects on the individual. Parental illness and death are causes of emotional trauma for children and young people. Stress is an emotional condition, experienced or felt when an individual has to cope with unsettling, frustrating or harmful situations. It is a disturbing sense of helplessness, which is uncomfortable and creates uncertainty and self-doubt. Psychosocial support aims to help children and young people cope with emotional trauma and stress.
The Importance of Psychosocial Support
The global strategic framework introduced in 2004 identifies strengthening the capacity of families to protect and care for children as one of five key strategies. Providing psychosocial support is seen as part of that strategy.
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