Trauma counselling stepped up in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 January 2005, 22:10 GMT]
Following a report that a tsunami victim had attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to him as he was depressed due to the death of his two year old son on December 26, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Trincomalee district has stepped up its trauma counselling programme for Tsunami victims, sources said.

Trauma victim after attempted suicide warded in Trinco hospital

The victim earlier attempted to kill himself with a pointed weapon but later tried to commit suicide by setting fire to him. Now he is being warded in the Trincomalee general hospital, sources said.

TRO as a first phase started trauma counselling for Tsunami victims in the divisions of Trincomalee Town and Gravets and Kuchchaveli. TRO held a meeting in the office of the Muttur education zone Wednesday to extend its programme to Muttur east and Eachchilampathu divisions. Mr.M.L.Kuthoos, Muttur Zonal Director presided.

Ms Jeya Thambiah, Provincial Assistant Director of Education, TRO Trincomalee district project director Mr.V.Kalaiwarnan and twelve trained trauma counsellors participated in the meeting and stressed the urgency of providing of trauma counselling to tsunami victims who are found in a depressed state of mind after losing their loved ones, properties and livelihood.

Later trained trauma counsellors have been divided into three groups and put in charge of Muttur east and Eachchilampathu divisions to take forward the trauma counselling programme in a meaningful way, TRO sources said.