SILVER SPRING, Md.--The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) China recently completed the Psycho-Social Support (PSS) project, a counseling training program that was designed to provide support for survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit western China in May 2008. Medical staff and emergency management professionals also benefitted, helping them to better handle the psychological scarring left by the tragedy, and provide assistance to others still suffering.
"After an entire year, some victims are still enduring tremendous pain from the disaster," said Sharon Tobing, acting program director for ADRA China. "They may have denied the actual extent of their needs or emotional trauma earlier, and only after a sufficient amount of time has passed, are they able to process their experience, as well as their feelings."
The program helps participants understand and identify the normal emotional reactions of a large-scale disaster, such as the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Attendees also learn skills they can use to help others deal with the tragedy, including coping mechanisms and how to identify survivors in need of more intensive professional care.
"Once survivors understand that what they are experiencing is normal, and that they are not the only ones, it helps them to move on with greater confidence," added Simon Yang, project manager for ADRA China. Some participants become trainers who pass on their knowledge and skills to other survivors, he added.
One of the program participants is a young primary school teacher in Sichuan Province who was left deeply traumatized by the disaster. Normally a vibrant, outgoing person, she became withdrawn, preferring to spend her time alone, and unwilling to talk about her experiences.
Almost a year after the disaster, Lily, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, began attending the training programs. As time progressed, Lily felt better able to confront her own experiences, sharing with staff that the timing of the training was beneficial for her, since it had given her an opportunity to understand her own feelings.
"There were people there from all over the world, and they all felt the same way I did. I found that to be very positive, and helped me to find a sense of hope after the tragedy," she said.
Lily also began reaching out to other teachers, helping them to process their own feelings and experiences regarding the disaster. Others, influenced by her courage to seek help, were motivated to find psychological support for themselves.
In Lixian County, village doctors received training from their local Township Health Center (THC) staff personnel, enabling them to visit every home in the county, meet with the families, and identify those who are most in need. Through the PSS project, ADRA provided assistance to the local THCs to train the village doctors. Other trainees included local hospital staff and teachers, who are now able to share what they have learned with others.
"Despite the fact that the Sichuan earthquake has ended, reconstruction work continues," said Sarah Ng, public relations officer for ADRA China. "Unfortunately, there will be other disasters, in other places. This program shows that there are still plenty of ways in which we can help the victims of this earthquake, and be prepared for the future."
"As long as we persist in offering the aid that survivors need, we can improve the conditions of their lives, both on a physical and a psychological level," she continued.
On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit the mountainous Sichuan Province located in western China, killing an estimated 90,000 people, and affecting more than 15 million people, including nearly 4 million in the city of Chengdu.
ADRA has been working in the People's Republic of China since 1998, addressing poverty alleviation through microcredit, health, disaster preparedness and environmental issues. Their key program is the introduction and extension of safe, healthy, sustainable, and energy-efficient straw bale construction practices.
ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.
For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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