Therapists Ana Lewis and Adalinda Sanchez joined KARE 11 on Sunday to tell us more about the impact of Operation Metro Surge on mental health among children.
MINNESOTA, USA — The deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, clashes between federal agents and protesters, and the detention of community members amid the federal immigration law enforcement have left many—including the smallest Minnesotans—affected, according to mental health experts.
Licensed marriage and family therapists Ana Lewis and Adalinda Sanchez stopped by KARE 11 on Sunday to share more about their experience in working with children affected by Operation Metro Surge.
Both say they see an impact on children’s mental health.
Sanchez said children who are often exposed to scenes of violence—including the instances of detainment—are prone to develop fear and anxiety, which then manifests into “mood changes, behavior changes, the way they start to frame the world.”
Both said that kids look up to adults when trying to “make sense of the world.” If adults experience disruption to their daily routine, that leaves an impact on children as well, Lewis said.
They noted that what children need right now is a sense of safety and a strong, nurturing relationship.
For parents, Sanchez suggests that it’s important to “speak to the age of the child and not to our logic” when having a discussion about current events.
“Sometimes we want to say a lot of things…they don’t need to know all the details,” she noted.
When speaking to children affected by current immigration enforcement, she said a useful resource is a book by Chandra Ghosh Ippen, “Once I Was Very Very Scared,” that features animal characters and provides a framework for both adults and children to better understand and process trauma and fear.
More resources can also be found on Change Inc. and the MN Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) websites.
Change Inc. is a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting children, youth, young adults, families, and communities affected by multiple stressors. According to the organization, they “utilize the power of relationship and community to create educational, training, and healing opportunities.”