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| November 16, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 13, 1426 |
Media to help restore quake survivors’ mental health
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Psych-ologists worried about the earthquake survivors slipping into stress disorders on Tuesday enlisted media’s help in fighting the looming danger. They warned the participants of a workshop that psychiatric diseases “will take epidemic form if all those responsible for providing relief did not join hands to prevent that from happening”.
Prevalence of mental disorders increases by 30 per cent in the aftermath of disasters. The Oct 8 quake left mental scars on some four million people in the devastated area, the workshop, organized by the Institute of Psychiatry, the WHO, Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, and the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office, was told.
“We benefited from the media’s critical reports in the immediate aftermath of the quake. Now the media has to create hope,” ISPR chief Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said in his key address. However uninformed reporting by some spread fear among the people and unjustified criticism frustrated relief workers, he noted.
“Media can help the survivors rebuild their shattered lives by creating hope and optimism,” he said, adding “an optimist sees opportunity in difficulties and a pessimist sees difficulties in opportunity”.
Prof Farid Minhas of the Institute of Psychiatry observed that popular singers like Abida Perveen and Abrarul Haq and columnists present in the workshop would be listened to when they deliver the message of mental health, not the psychiatrists who carry the stigma of “pagalon kay doctor” (doctor of madmen).
In Pakistan the media has acquired the role of policy-maker and should therefore help cultivate positive attitudes and the will to overcome the tragedy and start a new life, he said. “Stop talking of tragedy and start talking of hope,” he appealed.
Discussion on how to kindle hope and resilience in the post- trauma period sparked lively exchanges among the participants on the role of religion. Most agreed that Islam was the anchor for the faithful and mosque Imams should be associated in the effort to help earthquake survivors’ to rebuild their lives.
But the view was challenged by two participants.
“What the survivors need is shelter and food, not a dose of religion. They have been and are good Muslims. If anyone needs to be taught Islamic values, it is the government and the filthy rich,” said one.
“We have to be very careful about bringing in the moulvi. Religiosity could be very dangerous,” warned the other critic who has studied post-Tsunami and conflict situations in Asia.
Both were reminded by the pro-religion lobby that “faith healing” was practised even in those western secular societies which see danger in the moulvi.
“We have to have a local model. We will have to use the local Imam, the local teacher and such like as they carry influence with the local people,” said Brig Mowadat Hussain Rana, adviser in psychiatry to Pakistan armed forces and the moving spirit behind the workshop.
Brig Rana said that the National Action Plan for mental health and psycho-social relief for earthquake survivors was “geared to what is available here” and material had already been developed for mosque Imams and teachers to spread the message. Workshops are also planned for them.
Abrarul Haq and Abida Perveen agreed to record songs for the campaign to revive hope among quake survivors and save them from post-trauma stress disorders.
Campaign CDs would be distributed free in quake-devastated areas and broadcast by an FM radio station being established for the purpose with help from WHO which will also distribute radio sets, Brig Rana announced.
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