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News Item: Church News-Tsunami support turns to mental health
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| Church News-Tsunami support turns to mental health | 17 May 2005 |
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Church trains Indonesians to help victims cope with trauma spawned by the disaster May 14, 2005 By Sarah Jane Weaver Church News staff writer In a tent village in Bande Aceh, Indonesia, a small group of mental health professionals offered support to tsunami victims in their country. The effort was the culmination of a weeklong "Training the Trainer" seminar sponsored by LDS Family Services and the Church. Christian Anderson and Dennis Ashton, both of LDS Family Services, were in Indonesia April 4 through 14, providing assistance to Badan Peleyanan Kesehatan Jiva, a mental health facility in the tsunami-stricken nation. Juswan Tandiman, the Church CES coordinator for Indonesia and former Indonesia Jakarta Mission president, joined the group to provide translation. "One of the most critical needs immediately following the tsunami and likely to be a continuing need for months has been to address the emotional needs of the thousands and thousands who have lost so much," said Thomas Palmer, Welfare Services country director in Indonesia who helped coordinate the training event. For example, Elder Palmer said, he visited one village that had 550 school children before the tsunami, but lost all but 50 in the disaster. Most of the 50 children also lost siblings, parents and homes. "These statistics," said Elder Palmer, "repeat themselves over and over from Nias on the West to Banda Aceh in the North to Bireuen on the East of Aceh. The losses have been very real and the grief, depression and loneliness that has followed is every bit as real." The disaster occurred Dec. 26, when a magnitude 9 earthquake triggered tsunami waves that devastated coastlines across the Indian Ocean, leaving more than 220,000 people dead or missing in a dozen nations. It was the worst natural disaster in at least a quarter of a century. The catastrophe led to the biggest aid effort in world history; with the generous donations of Church members, the Church will help in rebuilding destroyed areas. At the Badan Peleyanan Kesehatan Jiwa, for example, the Church provided washing machines and repaired emergency vehicles to replace those damaged or destroyed in the disaster. The donations prompted the hospital staff to request a program to train professionals, who could then, in turn, train others to help with the trauma and loss suffered by the victims of the tsunami. During the training, Brother Ashton and Brother Anderson focused their presentations on the need to listen and integrate the issues of grief and loss into counseling. Brother Ashton never dreamed the professionals involved in the training would be so responsive. "I think we left something behind," he said. "Already we have gotten reports that these folks are taking this training to the next level." Elder Palmer said he visited the mental health facility only 10 days after the training and "already those they trained were conducting training for counselors in Simeulue (an island affected by the Nias earthquake) as well as continuing their counseling and training for those affected by the tsunami." Brother Anderson said the highlight of the training came when participants left the classroom and traveled to a tent village. They went throughout the neighborhood and talked to residents — many of whom he described as "walking dead" because of the emotional trauma they had suffered. Generally, the mental health professionals migrated to a small open-sided clubhouse type structure where they were out of the hot sun and could talk to those who needed, above all else, to talk. "The structure was less than 400 square feet and wall to wall with trainees and clients discussing their feelings and telling stories," said Brother Anderson. As he and Brother Ashton left the country, they had mixed feelings. They knew they had accomplished much good, but worried about all they couldn't do. "The job isn't done," said Brother Anderson. Still, said Brother Ashton, they left something behind in the "hearts and minds" of those they trained that will multiply as it reaches those who need it most. "I am hopeful," said one trainee in an evaluation. "I have learned the difference between talking to people and listening to their concerns." E-mail: sarah@desnews.com |
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