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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Healing power of listening by Chamitha Kuruppu Eighteen-year-old Amal from Galle was observing a group of volunteers cleaning the debris from their partly damaged house. The same group has promised to carry out the reconstruction work as well. Just like thousands of tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, Amal too had lost everything - his father, two sisters, grandparents and properties. But, for a moment he felt relieved, because he had found his mother who was missing for nearly five days. She had narrowly escaped the jaws of death. He was also relieved, because people had volunteered to rebuild his house. But Amal was worried about the condition of his mother, who had not spoken a single word since her rescue from the deadly tsunami. Doctors who visited the area echoed that her health condition was normal, but she is yet to overcome the mental trauma. Houses and buildings will come up again, highways and rail tracks will be reconstructed, and with all the aid that is flowing in, the country will be rebuilt. But what about people like my mother, who has lost their loved ones, and are mentally haunted by the same experience every single moment, queries Amal. Along with Amal, thousands of people in tsunami stricken areas ask the same question, what should be done to overcome the mental trauma? Many would have noticed that the excitement of aid collection has been over by now, and various institutions and individuals are currently visiting camps trying to 'help' the tsunami victims to 'improve their mental health'. Newspapers carry pictures and reports daily of similar programs held in camps, while many foreign organisations are also actively involved in conducting pschycosocial sessions for tsunami victims. Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, a popular organisation engaged in counselling says the institute receives a number of requests daily to visit areas and 'talk' to the affected people. According to Sumithrayo, most requests come from coordinators of welfare camps and volunteers who want to help tsunami victims. However, the institution claims that due to lack of trained instructors they are unable to visit the camps. "Actually, we are not directly involved in this, we have decided to tie up with other institutions such as Sahanaya, who are more capable of handling such work," says a spokesperson for Sumithrayo. Indrani Wijesundara of Sahanaya, National Council for Mental Health believes that more than helping the victims to overcome the mental trauma, it is important to educate welfare camp co-ordinators on taking care of the victims properly. Steps have been taken to fulfil the basic needs of these people. It is time to think about their mental health conditions, Wijesundara stresses, adding that if they are not properly looked after these victims might suffer from severe mental depression. "It is equally important to get the help of professional counsellors when such sessions are conducted. People without proper training can cause more damage rather than helping the victims,". Wijesundara says that it is equally important to listen to what people have to say. Saying something inappropriate will cause more and lead them to reject future counselling. It is important to train and educate camp co-ordinators, as they spend more time with victims. Meanwhile, without limiting the sessions to a couple of days, it is vital to carry out proper long-term mental health programs. Promoting active listening in order to identify their needs is the foremost necessaity of the hour, says Director of National Council for Mental Health Dr. S. Ratnapreya. According to him the victims will take at least six months to overcome the trauma. "No one should interfere the biggest help we can do is just listen to them," says Dr. Ratnapreya. "We came across several cases where victims were forced to talk and share their experiences. What people need to know is that counselling by force will traumatise victims even more," he cautions. Experts in the field believe that careful listening and an assurance that the victims will be well looked after in future, and provided with better security will make these victims more comfortable. However, Professor of Psychiatry, Nalaka Mendis who is also the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo emphasises that tsunami victims do not need counselling sessions at present. "We heard of many people who try to interfere with the feelings of these victims. In that case I think there should not be any counselling at all". Prof. Mendis asserts that if a person could listen to these victims and try to understand what their actual requirements are, none of them need professional help. Over 80 per cent of the severely affected victims have been left with terrible memories about the calamity. In such a situation it is normal for them to feel traumatised. You don't need professional counsellors to help them. Religious leaders, relatives, friends and neighbours can help them by listening to them and understanding their plight, says Prof, Mendis. |
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