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Typhoon Sendong has left unimaginable destruction of properties and loss of lives. At the onset of the disaster, survivors were very much concerned of their basic needs such as clothing, food and housing. To many who have lost their loved ones, problems concerning their basic needs were intertwined with the grief of sudden loss of loved ones and properties.
The response to extend help from others around the world came pouring, truly overwhelming. Many were able to secure their basic needs but to a number of survivors, it was too early to gain back emotional and psychological stability. The search for missing family members, the desolate situation in evacuation centers, the exchanges of stories that stirred grief amongst everyone, all these and more, have added to the emotional stresses that many try to hurdle. Each one has different pain threshold and an individual’s moving on over something painful is dependent on his personal choice, at his own pace.
Two months after the calamity, HOM Team Iligan conducted Rapid Mental Health Assessment in all the evacuation centers (ECs) in the city. Respondents were randomly chosen. Results showed that a number of the respondents experienced the following: thoughts of death or suicide, feelings of worthlessness, self- hate, guilt, fatigue, recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, being worrisome and easily frightened, especially when it rains.
Most of the survivors who are staying at the ECs are having difficulty to move on as their present living conditions affect their well-being so much. Water supply and accessibility to it concern them. They feel uneasy on the rules and prohibitions set for them to observe. The frequent raining always reminds them of the traumatic event that they have experienced. Most of the time they are haunted by the thoughts of Sendong. There had been reported cases of children who cry hard each time it rains. These are but examples of the impact of the calamity to the people of Iligan.
Prevention is good to avoid something, but Intervention is needed when something negative has already taken place. Thus, the HOM’s Mental Health program aims to offer interventions to those who have difficulty to cope with the distress or trauma caused by their experiences during Sendong and even after Sendong, as it is also a fact that some problems that surface are brought about by their stay in ECs.
Mental health and Psychosocial Support Program is essential in promoting interventions and ensuring that survivors get back to their lives as normal as they possibly can; to start anew as they learn how to rise above the situation where they are. Integration of Mental Health to Primary Health Care can be the most efficient way to get into the heart of the matter as we approach health holistically.
Sound decisions root from sound mind. We cannot separate behaviors from thoughts, they have a close-knit relationship. If we advocate health, we advocate Mental health.
The response to extend help from others around the world came pouring, truly overwhelming. Many were able to secure their basic needs but to a number of survivors, it was too early to gain back emotional and psychological stability. The search for missing family members, the desolate situation in evacuation centers, the exchanges of stories that stirred grief amongst everyone, all these and more, have added to the emotional stresses that many try to hurdle. Each one has different pain threshold and an individual’s moving on over something painful is dependent on his personal choice, at his own pace.
Two months after the calamity, HOM Team Iligan conducted Rapid Mental Health Assessment in all the evacuation centers (ECs) in the city. Respondents were randomly chosen. Results showed that a number of the respondents experienced the following: thoughts of death or suicide, feelings of worthlessness, self- hate, guilt, fatigue, recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, being worrisome and easily frightened, especially when it rains.
Most of the survivors who are staying at the ECs are having difficulty to move on as their present living conditions affect their well-being so much. Water supply and accessibility to it concern them. They feel uneasy on the rules and prohibitions set for them to observe. The frequent raining always reminds them of the traumatic event that they have experienced. Most of the time they are haunted by the thoughts of Sendong. There had been reported cases of children who cry hard each time it rains. These are but examples of the impact of the calamity to the people of Iligan.
Prevention is good to avoid something, but Intervention is needed when something negative has already taken place. Thus, the HOM’s Mental Health program aims to offer interventions to those who have difficulty to cope with the distress or trauma caused by their experiences during Sendong and even after Sendong, as it is also a fact that some problems that surface are brought about by their stay in ECs.
Mental health and Psychosocial Support Program is essential in promoting interventions and ensuring that survivors get back to their lives as normal as they possibly can; to start anew as they learn how to rise above the situation where they are. Integration of Mental Health to Primary Health Care can be the most efficient way to get into the heart of the matter as we approach health holistically.
Sound decisions root from sound mind. We cannot separate behaviors from thoughts, they have a close-knit relationship. If we advocate health, we advocate Mental health.
