A
wide variety of psychological needs amongst affected people
has been left in the wake of the tsunami which struck Sri Lanka
and the Danish Red Cross is seeking to address these.
The Danish Red Cross has been running a psychosocial programme
in Ampara and Jaffna in Sri Lanka, assisting people caught up
in the conflict. It now plans to provide psychosocial assistance
to people in tsunami affected areas on the east coast stretching
from Trincomalee in the north down to Hambantota in the south.
Dr Margriet Blaauw works for International Federation’s
Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, which is based in
Denmark. It is housed at the Danish Red Cross which pays special
attention to psychosocial programmes.
Dr Blaauw was in Sri Lanka recently on an assessment visit,
meeting with affected people, volunteers and Red Cross staff
in several districts.
She says the disaster has affected various groups in different
ways and all need to be catered for when designing the programme
for assistance.
For example, Dr Blaauw says fishermen face the conflicting emotions
of now being scared of the sea, but knowing it is essential
to their livelihood. They are concerned about providing for
their families but also face personal fears. She says men are
as psychologically vulnerable as anyone, but can be hard to
reach.
“Most of them were agitated. They wanted to talk. They
were happy to talk about anything but not about the sea. We
explain to them that their emotions are normal,” Dr. Blaauw
explains.
While men have to learn to cope with fears of returning to their
trade, the women onshore face their own traumas. Dr. Blaauw
says women who have lost husbands, fathers and brothers are
feeling unsafe and uncertain.
“The concerns about their future are very strong. Many
women told us that they cry themselves to sleep at nights. A
group of women complained about headaches, neck pain, sleeping
problems and nightmares,” she said.
The needs of children present special challenges. Dr Blaauw
says many are afraid to return to their homes. Others have anxieties
as they return to school without books or proper clothing.
“Adults are busy with their own experiences and worries.
There are activities for children but, more must be done for
them,” she adds.
While victims of the tsunami obviously need assistance, Dr.
Blaauw says it is important not to neglect the psychological
needs of those involved in the relief operation such as volunteers.
"They keep going and going and feel what they are doing
is not enough. They see terrible things and destruction and
these worry them as well,” she says.
As a result of her visit, Dr Blaauw has come up with a series
of recommendations:
• General support, psychological first aid and activities
with the affected population.
• Counselling for people having particular difficulty
coping.
• School-based activities for children.
• Psychosocial activities for both men and women with
the help of selected local counsellors.
• The training of carefully selected volunteers to provide
counselling.
Dr Blaauw believes it is crucial to get affected people involved
in providing psychosocial support and this is reflected in her
recommendations.
|
 |
 |
|
|
Among
their many tasks, Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers have
been assisting with counselling and comforting victims
(p12341)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Dr
Margriet Blaauw of the Danish Red Cross has been formulating
a psychosocial programme for victims of the tsunami (p12578)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Children
are being provided with counselling, such as at this Sri
Lanka Red Cross centre in Hambantota (p-LKA0084)
|
|
News
