PRESS RELEASE
Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress & Genocide
130 W 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-6387
Tel: 212-362-4018
Fax: 201-941-5110
E-mail: AASSSG@aol.com
Web:
Post Tsunami Mental Health Outreach Program in SE Asia
New York, NY: The terrible earthquake and tsunami on December 2004 that
struck 11 countries, from Indonesia to Somalia has had a tremendous impact on the
world. After seeing the devastation left by the tsunami on the news, Dr.
Kalayjian sent an application to mental health practitioners to volunteer both time
and money. Based on her 15 year experience in post disaster mental health
outreach, Dr. Kalayjian realized that psychological aide needed to start
immediately after the physical needs were met. This thought was supported by
Ambassador Bernard Goonatilleke, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United
Nations. The Association for Disaster and Mass Trauma Studies & the Armenian
American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide spearheaded by Dr. Anie
Kalayjian organized a Mental Health Outreach Program (MHOP) to Sri Lanka.
MHOP was implemented successfully post 1988 earthquake in Armenia
and the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. MHOP expands on the nursing process from
its five phases into eight phases. The eight phases of the MHOP include:
Preassessment, Assessment, Analysis, Community diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation, and Remodification (Kalayjian, 2003).
The program is designed to address the needs of all those whose lives have
been directly or indirectly impacted by the Tsunami, and places emphasis on
discussing traumatic memories and experiences, and finding positive meaningin
their lives. Special consideration will be given to the impact of religionon
coping, culture specific forms of communication, willingness to share feelings
with strangers, impact of political upheaval as well as varied views on
causality.
Teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals and parents will be trained in the
Six-Step Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual Model. Dr. Kalayjian’s Six-Step
Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual – Model is comprised of the following six steps:
Assess levels of distress
Encourage discovery of memories & expression of feelings
Provide empathy and validation
Encourage discovery and expression of positive meaning
Provide didactic information
Provide instructions for diaphragmatic breathing and physical relief (Safety
Science, 2001, 39 pp. 71-81).
MHOP is collaborating with United Sikhs, an NGO based in UK. United Sikhs is
securing shelter for the volunteers. Additionally, MHOP is collaborating with
Columbia University’s School of Public Health, Center for Disaster
Preparedness. The MHOP team will be going to Sri Lanka, Colombo first and then to the
fields and the refugee camps. Each team will have 3-5 people. The first team will
be leaving on February 9th and the second team will meet them around February
20th to receive an orientation and a progress report. The first team
comprised of: Drs.Kalayjian, Kuriansky, Hoven, Mandell, Ms. Moore & Shamamian.
Subsequent teams will follow this same structure. Each team will work in the field
for three weeks.
A research component will be integrated in this outreach. Levels of PTSD,
resiliency and physiological symptoms will be explored.
For more information kindly contact Dr. Kalayjian @ 201-941-2266, E-mail:
kalayjiana@aol.com