The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Study to evaluate mental health of tsunami-hit

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Friday, May 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Study to evaluate mental health of tsunami-hit

Ramya Kannan

Focus on depressive disorders, alcoholism

CHENNAI: The Indian Council for Medical Research has commissioned a study of the mental health scenario in the tsunami-hit districts of Tamil Nadu.

The study, "Mental health-needs assessment and service delivery model in tsunami-hit districts of coastal Tamil Nadu", is aimed at conducting qualitative research to evaluate the mental health of those affected by the tsunami.

"In the West, it is believed that there is a high incidence of mental health problems that occur after a disaster. Here, we have proved that the incidence is not on the scale as in the West (with the Orissa Supercylone), but the response to the disaster depends on the nature of the calamity as well. We need to study the nature of the problem," said S. Nambi, principal investigator for the project, and president, Indian Psychiatric Society.

The project will study not only the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, immediately connected with the disaster, but also other depressive disorders, alcoholism and exacerbation of mental illness.

It will also study the coping mechanisms, response patterns and protective factors of the affected population; assess treatment needs and the mental health services available in the affected areas and examine the feasibility of integrating the components of mental health service delivery models into general health and other relief material.

The teams will be expected to develop models for psychological and emotional support for those involved in relief activities and assess public satisfaction with the mental health services and other relief measures during disaster management.

Four centres have been set up in the State — one each in Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanniyakumari — the badly-affected districts, but the entire region touched by the tsunami will be surveyed to assess the extent of the problem and the form it takes in various villages.

"It is, by and large, a homogenous group that has been affected — the fishing community, a unique feature of this particular disaster. It will be interesting to gauge the psychological effect this has on the people," says Dr. Nambi.

Senior research fellows and professors of psychiatry in the district medical colleges, natives of a particular district or by virtue of having served for years in the area, will anchor the study in each unit, so that it will be sensitive to the unique socio-cultural features of the community in those areas.

Work on the project began on March 1, and will go on for four months, as a pilot venture.

It is likely to be extended for up to a year, Dr. Nambi says.

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