In fulfillment of its goal to upskill disaster responders in Borongan City, the Ayala Foundation held a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) training in the context of disasters at the Eastern Samar State University Canuctan Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The training, done simultaneously with the disaster reporting and management workshop, highlighted the importance of rendering psychosocial support to crisis victims. Dr. Dinah Nadera, University of the Philippines Diliman resident psychiatrist and World Health Organization consultant for MHPSS, was the resource speaker at the said event.
According to Nadera, the number of individuals suffering from mental disorders tends to increase twofold after emergencies, giving rise to the necessity of establishing a comprehensive approach to psychological assistance.
“First of all, ang mental health and psychosocial problems increase as a result of disaster. Hindi lang ‘yung health condition, but even the social conditions that push people to develop several problems. Dito, ang pinag-uusapan natin mental health conditions lang pero in other areas, even sexual abuse, will actually increase. Drug use and alcohol abuse usually increase also. Of course, these are mental health issues, they have a long-term effect on mental health. And itong mga social conditions na ‘to, usually rise as a result of disasters. Kaya it’s important that we are aware that there are mental health implications,” said Nadera.
The talk touched on three main topics: MHPSS interventions, psychological first aid, and self-care or caring for carers. The core principles of psychosocial support and the steps on how to administer psychological first aid were tackled as well the ways in which disaster responders can overcome the trauma they acquire from performing their duties.
Moreover, the level of safety and security felt by disaster victims was also foregrounded as a significant contributing factor to one’s mental state.
“I think there has to be an awareness on the implications to safety and security of other areas. Kasi basic ang safety and security sa person, ‘di ba? ‘Yung kanina ‘yung sinabi nila natatakot, eh ‘yung fear and terror will lead to trauma na, ‘eh. And the trauma is long-standing. So kapag hindi ka conscious, nai-integrate ang safety and security sa lahat ng gagawin mo sa disaster work. It will all translate to trauma, to immobilization, because trauma immobilizes people. It will all translate to humihingi ka nalang kasi you’re powerless, you depend on others na,” Nadera stated.
Before wrapping up, several group activities were organized by the Ayala team to assess the participants’ retention of the concepts discussed. Through the training, Nadera hopes that Borongan’s efforts toward mental health awareness will continue.
“Borongan was the first recipient of the Mental Health Gap Action Program, we used to call it Project Luis noon, it’s project Lusog Isip Para sa Silangang Samar. So, ang vision is for mental health to be accessed at all levels, during disasters, when there is no disaster… that it will be continuously provided. So that people will have better mental health resiliency during disasters,” she said.
The MHPSS is part of the Ayala Foundation’s disaster education initiative called the “Maging Handa: Upskilling Disaster Responders.” Nurses and doctors of the City Health Office, employees of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, as well as student journalists from the Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School – Ang Sinag attended the event.