Category: Health and Wellness
I wonder as Ilisten to the news reports from S.E Asia about the emtional impact of this diaster..I do know from experience that a traumatic event can trigger many reactions from disbelief, shock,numbness and afterwards abject terror .
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But what concerns me most looking at these people is the psycholoical cost to them in terms of their mental health ......there is a very real danger of them developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder it worries me that these people might not get the counselling they so badly need in particular the children who cannot understand the sheer scale of this tragedy and why their parents siblings and friends arent around..Yes they must be fed medicated and given every physical comfort but not at the expense of their minds.
and sorry to say the mental care that is as urgently required as the items you listed will more than likely not be given. I can't even begin to imagine the heartache, it makes my own tough times seems as though nothing at all. There was this lady, a grandmother who was in her late 60's, close to 70 with a grandchild by her side. Her children had all died as well as other family members, seven in total. I know the heartache of loosing someone yet to loose seven at one time as well as one's home and all that one has, you are right Alex, there is a need for emotional/psycholoical healings. A job that has to be done is that of collecting the bodies for removal to then to be cremated/buried. That is task that I don't know how someone brings themself to do. They were showing a couple of guys going around in a pick-up truck loading the bodies in heaps one on top of the other, thrown in like how one would toss gathering fire wood. Yes, counselling and being able to talk out this heartache needs to be provided for.
Right you are. With any disaster the potential of a large number of victims suffering from PSTD is great. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, psychological counseling is never a priority. Working in the mental health field myself, I have read reports of cases of PTSD already being documented. Also, I know mental health professionals are being sent to those countries along with doctors and nurses. There will be much long term care needed, to be sure, but, for now, we can be thankful for what is being done.
You're absolutely right, Goblin. Steps definitely need to be taken to help these people go through their impending post traumatic stress. i have no doubt that many if not all of these people will develop this, after such a horrible event. I wish someone would realize this and do something about it, to help these people.
Caitlin
There are counsellors already in Thailand working mostly with the children to help them cope but the real problem lies in countries like India where mental illness is viewed with great fear and distrust,and the fact that India is still stubbornly refusing aid should be a real cause for concern.. the people there are finding and burying the dead on their own and it doesnt take much to imagine what they must have seen in the past few week or so...they could very well end up as outcasts in their own country