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Mental Health Outreach Program in Sri Lanka

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  • Mental Health Outreach Program in Sri Lanka

    PRESS RELEASE
    Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress & Genocide
    130 W 79th Street
    New York, NY 10024-6387
    Tel: 212-362-4018
    Fax: 201-941-5110
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.armenocides.com/

    Post Tsunami Mental Health Outreach Program in SE Asia

    New York, NY: The terrible earthquake and tsunami on December 2004 that
    struck 11 countries, from Indonesia to Somalia has had a tremendous impact on the
    world. After seeing the devastation left by the tsunami on the news, Dr.
    Kalayjian sent an application to mental health practitioners to volunteer both time
    and money. Based on her 15 year experience in post disaster mental health
    outreach, Dr. Kalayjian realized that psychological aide needed to start
    immediately after the physical needs were met. This thought was supported by
    Ambassador Bernard Goonatilleke, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United
    Nations. The Association for Disaster and Mass Trauma Studies & the Armenian
    American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide spearheaded by Dr. Anie
    Kalayjian organized a Mental Health Outreach Program (MHOP) to Sri Lanka.
    MHOP was implemented successfully post 1988 earthquake in Armenia
    and the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. MHOP expands on the nursing process from
    its five phases into eight phases. The eight phases of the MHOP include:
    Preassessment, Assessment, Analysis, Community diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
    Evaluation, and Remodification (Kalayjian, 2003).
    The program is designed to address the needs of all those whose lives have
    been directly or indirectly impacted by the Tsunami, and places emphasis on
    discussing traumatic memories and experiences, and finding positive meaningin
    their lives. Special consideration will be given to the impact of religionon
    coping, culture specific forms of communication, willingness to share feelings
    with strangers, impact of political upheaval as well as varied views on
    causality.
    Teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals and parents will be trained in the
    Six-Step Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual Model. Dr. Kalayjian's Six-Step
    Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual - Model is comprised of the following six steps:
    Assess levels of distress
    Encourage discovery of memories & expression of feelings
    Provide empathy and validation
    Encourage discovery and expression of positive meaning
    Provide didactic information
    Provide instructions for diaphragmatic breathing and physical relief (Safety
    Science, 2001, 39 pp. 71-81).
    MHOP is collaborating with United Sikhs, an NGO based in UK. United Sikhs is
    securing shelter for the volunteers. Additionally, MHOP is collaborating with
    Columbia University's School of Public Health, Center for Disaster
    Preparedness. The MHOP team will be going to Sri Lanka, Colombo first and then to the
    fields and the refugee camps. Each team will have 3-5 people. The first team will
    be leaving on February 9th and the second team will meet them around February
    20th to receive an orientation and a progress report. The first team
    comprised of: Drs.Kalayjian, Kuriansky, Hoven, Mandell, Ms. Moore & Shamamian.
    Subsequent teams will follow this same structure. Each team will work in the field
    for three weeks.
    A research component will be integrated in this outreach. Levels of PTSD,
    resiliency and physiological symptoms will be explored.
    For more information kindly contact Dr. Kalayjian @ 201-941-2266, E-mail:
    [email protected]
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