The Hindu : National : Psychological trauma a serious problem in tsunami-hit areas: WHO

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Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

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National

Psychological trauma a serious problem in tsunami-hit areas: WHO

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 19. The World Health Organisation today warned that the problem of psychological trauma among the tsunami-affected might be more serious than what was so far believed. Unless urgent action was taken, the long-term effect on the victims could be "terrible."

Citing reports from health workers who had been in the tsunami-hit areas, the WHO said that virtually everyone who had been affected by the natural disaster appeared to be suffering from some form of psychosocial trauma or other and needed support.

"Many can cope and gradually come to terms with what has happened. But, many others will either sit motionless or cry for hours on end. If support is not urgently provided, the long-term effect could be terrible," said Samlee Pilanbangchang, WHO's South East Asia Regional Director.

WHO's Regional Mental Health Advisor, Vijay Chandra, said psychosocial support should be provided only by properly trained personnel. "We must ensure that this [the problem] is not trivialised by permitting any untrained person to do the counselling, but [that it] is done by health workers who have been trained under WHO guidelines."

He said the primary need was not medication or medical diagnoses that suggested the need for psychiatric interventions. "It would be inappropriate to fly in numerous psychiatrists to provide support. Health workers from the affected communities will be much more aware of what the victims are now going through. As such, they are in a position to provide much more empathic support than any external professional could."

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