Trauma counselling for Tsunami victims emphasized

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2005, 16:57 GMT]
Two persons took their lives and few have been rescued from committing suicide in depressed state of mind following deaths of their loved ones in Tsunami that hit the coastal areas of the Jaffna district and more are found to be suffering from mental disorders, said the Trauma Counselling Group (TCG) briefing the media in Jaffna Friday, sources said.

The Counselling Group comprising Professor Daya Somasunderam, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Dr.S.Sivayogan of Tellipalai hospital, Rev.Fr.Rasanayagam Director of Ahavoli Psychiatry Centre and Dr.S.Sivashankar participated in the press briefing.

TCG has been entrusted with the task of supervising all institutions that are providing counselling to Tsunami victims who have sought shelter in welfare centres and other institutions, sources said.

The TCG is functioning as an arm of the Jaffna District Task Force, which is providing relief, and rehabilitation to Tsunami victims.

The TCG said several people psychologically affected during the period of war were treated successfully by counselling. The psychological damage caused by Tsunami is worse than that caused by war. In Tsunami more women and children died. This has forced many men to turn to alcohol and many more are suffering from mental disorder, sources said.

Victims should be allowed to resettle in their areas and should be helped to restart their religious and social activities as usual, the TCG said.