Psychological Support Trumps Famine

Psychological Support Trumps Famine

By Bailey Wilkins

Famine is a worldwide issue that increasingly affects more individuals as time goes by. It is often brought to light during natural disasters, as it has been recently with the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Since those disasters, many people have been doing their part to provide food, clean water and shelter to the victims. While that is an integral part of the survival and recovery of these people, it is not all that they need. Something most people may not consider is psychological support.

This week, The Red Cross published a story about the need for psychological help in these devastated areas, particularly in Chile. Since the disaster one month ago, Chile has experienced over 200 aftershocks.

“’These strong tremors are particularly distressing to people trying to recover from the trauma of having lost family members and friends, homes, and livelihoods,” explains Gustavo Ramirez, regional representative, currently in Chile. “People who live in the coastal areas are not only afraid of the aftershocks but also of any possible tsunamis they may trigger, and even people whose homes have been assessed as being safe are afraid of staying indoors. They wonder whether these aftershocks will ever end.’”

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Red Cross psychology staff from Spain, Colombia, Ecuador and Nicaragua has treated over 1700 people since the disaster and there are many more who need it. This kind of help may not be as critical to survival as food and water; however, it is critical to regaining their lives. Posttraumatic stress can ruin any chance they ever have of returning to their old lives and living through the trauma of every aftershock can emotionally scar them.

The earthquake reduced buildings to rubble, but after the dust cleared much more damage was left behind on those who survived. Starvation is only one of the many aspects of need for these individuals. It is important to donate and make sure they can survive, but they also need to be able to truly live. The Red Cross is doing their part to make that happen.