How do children cope with trauma?

There is a strong immediate psychological risk to Zeena of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and this could manifest itself in a number of ways, according to Ms Citron.

Recurrent flashbacks, reliving the incident in her mind like a film, sleeplessness and bed-wetting are among symptoms seen in children suffering from PTSD.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteIt will take years and years of trained professionals helping her”

End QuoteEmma CitronConsultant clinical psychologist Ms Citron also said that, later in life, children who have witnessed violent events can also underachieve academically and feel they live in a "different sphere or world" from everyone else.

She may struggle in friendships and, Ms Citron said, traumatised children have tended to report later on that people do not understand them.

The loss of her parents, and the realisation of the significance of this as she grows older, will also complicate her trauma.

"It will take years and years of trained professionals helping her. She's at a very formative age where she's very dependent on her loved ones for her care and personality," she said, adding that having family members near to her will be crucial to her recovery and care.

"Even for a young baby, to go through such an awful thing traumatises them. With any developed concept of mortality, as they grow up, more and more, they realise all the loss as they piece it together," Ms Citron said.

Ultimately every child's experience of an atrocity is different, Ms Citron said, and very personal.

Zeena's ability to cope will depend on a number of factors, including her resilience and her genetic disposition.

"As she grows up it would be very much down to her own resilient personality, her genes, whether her family were or weren't copers - all of that has a part to play for how the future pans out for a child."