PRESS RELEASE
Association for Disaster and Mass TraumaStudies
139 Cedar Streeet
Cliffside Park, NY 07010
Contact: Dr. Anie Kalayjian
Tel: 201-941-2266 Fax: 201-941-5110
E-mail: kalayjiana@aol.com
Web:
Sri Lanka: Post Tsunami Mental Health Outreach Project
Lessons learned
By: Dr. Anie Kalayjian
Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, February 24, 2005: We have all been hearing the
dollar amount donated to Sri Lanka by countries such as the United
States, Japan, Germany, and others, after the tsunami devastated the
country the day after Christmas. Since the tsunami occurred, various
international aid organizations are providing aid for basic needs such
as purified water, food, clothes, school supplies and medical
supplies. In spite of receiving mixed reports regarding the emotional
and psychological needs, thousands of people who lost their loved
ones, homes and livelihood, have just begun receiving psychological
first aide.
Mental Health Outreach Project (MHOP), a disaster relief organization
of Association for Disaster & Mass Trauma Studies, (not for profit,
501 c3) headquartered in New York and spearheaded by Dr. Anie
Kalayjian, Treasurer of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights,
and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Fordham University, has
organized teams of professional volunteers to go toSri Lanka to
deliver psychological first aide, training, and counseling to the
thousands impacted by the tsunami. The first team has just returned
from its mission after working with hundreds of survivors in camps,
refugee settlements, schools, and colleges. Hosted by the UNITED
SIKHS, a worldwide humanitarian organization, MHOP has collaborated
with the local Sri Lankan authorities and psychosocial workers to
provide ongoing psychological support to the thousands of people
affected by the disaster.
According to the National Geographic News, Tsunami (pronounced
soo-NAH-mee) comes from Japan, where it is a common occurrence that
has claimed thousands of Japanese lives in recent centuries. A
tsunami is a series of great sea waves caused by an underwater
earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. Tsunamis have been
relatively rare in the Indian Ocean. They are most prevalent in the
Pacific. But every ocean has generated the scourges, leaving many
countries at risk. In 1700, a great earthquake of magnitude 9 struck
the Pacific Northwest which created a tsunami that caused flooding and
damage on the Pacific coast of Japan. Though less common, a tsunami
can be generated by a giant meteor’ s impact with the ocean. A tsunami
is not a single wave but a series of waves, also known as a wave
train. The first wave in a tsunami is not necessarily the most
destructive. Tsunamis are not tidal waves. Tsunami waves can be very
long (as much as 60 miles, or 100 kilometers) and be as far as one
hour apart. They are able to cross entire oceans without great loss of
energy. The Indian Ocean tsunami traveled as much as 3,000 miles
(nearly 5,000 kilometers) to Africa, arriving with sufficient force to
kill people and destroy property.
MHOP developed by Dr. Kalayjian is comprised of a series of six
consecutive steps through which various aspects of traumatic exposure
are assessed, identified, explored, and worked through. The following
are the preliminary findings: Assess levels of trauma & coping as they
expressed their feelings: The predominant feelings expressed almost by
all survivors were that of fear: fear of the sea, fear of going back
to their homes, and fear of the tsunami reoccurring. Shock and
disbelief were expressed consistently. I just couldnot believe that
the sea was so black, the wave was so high, and I felt trapped, all
exemplify this feeling. As a result, there was a tremendous feeling
of helplessness expressed. Guilt was expressed by almost 92%; guilt
of surviving, and guilt of not doing enough to save their children,
spouses or relatives. Therefore, most survivors were haunted by
repetitive nightmares of hands of their loved ones waving in the air
as the waves were taking their loved ones away from them in the sea of
black water as they were calling out their names `father, help me..’
or `mother, help me please.’ Flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and
sleep disturbances were also expressed.
The team provided empathy and validation to the survivors in groups as
well as individually. It was reinforced that they did the best they
could in the circumstances above and beyond their control. Many team
members were sad and overwhelmed as they heard survivors, one after
the other, tell their stories of courage, creativity, survival, and
loss. People expressed multiple losses that they could not endure.
One man told the group that 48 members of his clan had died. He was
one of the two who survived. Often, the MHOP members were perplexed
as how to provide empathy when so much is lost. When trauma ruptures
the individual’s connection with the group, a strong sense of
isolation, disarray and helplessness occurs. Providing validation and
empathy in sucha group helped these survivors reestablish the mutual
exchange between the individual and the group.
Survivors were eager to tell their stories, as they expressed feelings
of wanting to feel normal again. When encouraged to express lessons
they learned and meanings associated with this devastation, some
expressed that they learned to be united, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian &
Muslim living collaboratively and as brothers. Many expressed that
they now want to spend more time with their family and relatives,
rather than pay attention to material goods. Others expressed that
they learned to not rely on government but rather on self and the
spirit of unity.
As for why did the tsunami happen? There was one predominant
response: Over twenty years of conflict between Tamil and Sinhalese
races, ethnic strife and civil war, caused this devastating tsunami.
Therefore, the lesson for them was to unite and appreciate one
another. Since the tsunami did not discriminate Tamil over Sinhalese
in death, they wanted to learn how to collaborate and unite in life.
Of course as one 25-year-old Christian Tamil man stated: `This unity
concept is in thought only and it needs a lot to have it put in
practice.’ The MHOP team members shared the technical
informationregarding how and why tsunamis are formed scientifically in
the didactic part of the model. Survivors were listening with great
interest and with a thirst for more. Several techniques were used to
release fear, sadness and guilt. Body, breath, and mind were
incorporated for intentional cleansing exercises. When one cannot
control Mother Nature, evil forces, and what happens outside of one’s
self, survivors are assisted in focusing and processing how they
respond tothe disaster. It is important to focus on things one can
control. Breath was used to help the survivors establish an inner
peace and inner strength. Visualization and positive affirmations
were also utilized and integrated in the model.
Survivors were also assisted in asking the empowering question rather
than the victimizing one of why? If one asks why it happened, one is
transformed to the past, to the tsunami, where feelings of fear,
victimization and guilt prevail. When one asks the question what can I
do now, one is assisted to remain in the here and now; the coping,
present state.
As for the tsunami, it was defined as the giant monster of the sea.
Parents used this phrase to deter their unruly children. `Behave, or
else the Giant (Monster) will come from the sea.’ Almost all
described the tsunami as a ` giant monster.’ Now parents are confused
as to what phrases to useto discipline their unruly children. Perhaps
they learned that fear provoking is not healthy for the children.
The MHOP provides daily group therapies, individual therapy, and art
therapy with the children, desensitization groups for those fearing
the sea and the return to their homes near the sea. Some of the
participants’ expressions that exemplify their empowerment and health
were `This morning I had nothing to live for, I had no hope, but now,
after the group, I feel so alive and so happy.’ `If you can come all
the way from America to help us, we can find ways to help ourselves
too.’ Members of the clinical team were Dr. Kalayjian, team
coordinator & Director, Dr. Kuriansky of Columbia University, Nancy
Moore, Fordham University, and Hishara Godanka, University of Texas.
Other team members were Drs. Christina Hoven and Donald Mendall,
Columbia University and Lousine Shamamian a documentarian.
The second team of the MHOP met with the first team in Colombo, before
their departure to Batticaloa. They received training, orientation,
and assignment from Dr. Kalayjian. Team three will be leaving on
March 8. Those interested in sending funding or getting involved as a
volunteer may contact Dr. Kalayjian.