How to provide psychosocial help to calamity victims

Many people experienced or are in the midst of anxiety after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine battered several parts of the country.

Despite the storm having left Philippine shores, many are still worried about recovering from the calamity that befell them and of having to start over again. 

To help address this, the University of Batangas’ Counseling and Psychological Wellness (COPWELL) Center Department  is currently providing free psychosocial counseling to Batangas residents who were affected by Kristine.

Dr. Gladi Eje, UB COPWELL Center director, shared some tips on Nico Waje’s report on Tuesday’s Saksi on how we can help someone cope from the calamity.

Look

Assess what your friend or loved one in a distressing situation might need.

“You look around bago mo puntahan ‘yung taong gusto mong tulungan. You assess the situation, ano ba ang pangangailangan nila?” said Eje.

(You look around before you proceed to the person you wish to help. You assess the situation and ask yourself, “What do they need?”.)

Listen

It’s important to listen to the stories of your friends and family who were affected.

“You go there, you listen to their stories, kung ano man ang sasabihin nila. But it doesn’t end there na nakinig ka lang sa kanila…Now you’ve learned kung ano ang mga pangangailangan niya,” said Eje.

(You go there and listen to their stories and whatever they have to say. But having listened doesn’t end there, now you’ve learned what they really need.)

Link

While it’s comforting for your loved ones that you listened to them, it would be better if you can connect them to people or institutions who have the training or are equipped to really help them.

“We link them to people, to agencies, to another specialized help na mas matutulungan sila,” said Eje.

(We link them to people, to agencies, or to another specialized help who can really help them.)

Eje added that checking on your affected loved ones will open their eyes that they need mental support after the unfortunate events they experienced.

“It will open their eyes na kailangan ko pala ng someone who will listen to me, na kailangan ko pala ng aakay sa akin into embracing itong pain na nararamdaman, itong trauma na nararamdaman ko,” she added.

(It will open their eyes that they need someone who will listen to them, that they need someone who can help embrace the pain and trauma they feel.)

Aside from the UB COPWELL Center, the Philippine Red Cross also provides psychosocial support to calamity victims.

“However, may mga instances na lubha silang naapektuhan na they need professional help. Then we refer them to professional psychiatrists or psychologists,” said PH Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang.

(However, there were instances where they were badly affected mentally and they needed professional help for that. Then we refer them to professional psychiatrists or psychologists.)
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News