Beyond grief: Families grieve as a hearse carrying one of the victims of the Batang Kali landslide leaves the Forensic Department of the Sungai Buloh hospital. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Psychological first aid is crucial for survivors of a natural disaster to help them reduce stress, stabilise and help them recover from the traumatic event, say mental health experts.
It is necessary to help the survivors process the trauma and shockwaves of the landslide that struck Father’s Organic Farm in Batang Kali early Friday morning, leaving 24 dead, nine missing and scores injured, they said.
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Dr Hazli Zakaria, a psychiatrist and founder of Alaminda Healthcare, said offering psychological first aid (PFA) can help survivors process and make sense of the event that has unfolded, but it must be provided only as an option and not be forced upon them if they are not ready.
“PFA is offered onsite and is different from counselling or debriefing. The PFA strategy is to serve as a platform for the survivors to vent and share if they feel like it.
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“It should not only be offered to survivors and family members, but also to the rescuers who have seen the traumatising event,” he said.
Dr Hazli said the aim of offering PFA at this stage is to prevent the sequelae (or aftereffects) of traumatic events such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other conditions such as depression.
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While not everyone will develop these mental health issues, there is a need to detect early those who might potentially be at risk, he added.
“The majority will be okay, but some will be affected badly and need psychological help.
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“More importantly, there should be a follow-up and they shouldn’t be forgotten after a few months,” he said.
Psychologist and University of Cyberjaya Psychology and Social Sciences Faculty dean Assoc Prof Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said PFA is important to get victims through the initial stage of mental shock.
Safe and sound: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail visiting landslide survivors at Hospital Selayang. — Bernama
“It is to help people get back a sense of balance in the face of a crisis that’s continuing.
“Once you go past that critical crisis stage period where people have calmed down and can think about other things besides the tragedy, then comes the stage of managing mental health, and this is when you get all kinds of reactions.
“For some individuals, they will need mental health support as an event could create trauma, bad dreams, fears, phobias and a sense of guilt.
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“Keep in mind that these are individuals who had gone for a holiday, so for the family members who planned the holiday, if they survived, survivor’s guilt may come in as well as potential issues with grief and loss.
“They could face complicated grief if they’ve lost more than one family member, and this is not just for those at the site,” she said.
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Anasuya added that while not all survivors would develop serious mental health issues, many would require help to manage their day-to-day lives amid the trauma.
“Helping them to manage so it’s not so painful, there is less fear and trauma and more functionality, that’s what we’re talking about,” she said.
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Consultant psychiatrist, psychotherapist and medical director of The Mind Faculty Dr Stephen Jambunathan said the mental health effects of a tragedy may even appear weeks later for survivors of natural disasters.
“Thus, it is very important for survivors and family members of victims to prevent psychological problems like PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression and other conditions involving the mind,” he said.
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Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry has been providing mental health and psychological support to all the family members right from the start.
“We have mobilised our Mental Health Psychosocial Support team to the site to provide psychosocial aid to survivors, their family members and the search and rescue personnel,” he said when contacted yesterday.
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Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said the Welfare Department has also assigned counsellors to help the survivors since Friday.
“We will continue to provide counselling as long as needed,” she said when contacted.
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Aiman had said that counselling was needed as many survivors were deeply distraught over the death of loved ones and missing family members.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the Education Ministry has assigned counsellors to offer psychosocial support to family members and the next of kin of those who died in the landslide.
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This will consist of nine counsellors working in three shifts.
“They will be on continuous duty at Hospital Sungai Buloh until everything is finished.
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“We have the support of the Health Ministry, especially from the mental health and psychosocial team, and also from the hospital,” she told reporters yesterday.
