Civil groups today called on the government to integrate post-disaster emotional crisis management into its relief procedures, as today marks World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day, initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health, has been observed annually on Oct. 10 since 1992, promoting mental health education.
This year’s theme is "Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies," the National Education Action Alliance and the Taiwan Federation for Mental Health said in a joint news release.
Photo courtesy of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation via CNA
The groups highlighted the recent Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake breach flood in Hualien County's Guangfu Township (光復) during Typhoon Ragasa as a core issue for mental health, citing research and statistics from health organizations.
One-third of disaster victims may experience significant psychological effects, according to research from the federation.
About 22 percent of those affected could develop diagnosable mental disorders such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, WHO data showed.
Seven schools were closed for nearly two weeks following the barrier lake overflow, the groups said.
Students, parents and teachers had to make detours to school and lost school supplies, while campuses were used as temporary shelters, they said.
In addition to providing counseling, crisis response teams should be immediately set up in affected schools and communities, they said.
Safe spaces and stress relief stations should be established to provide acute psychological care with the help of counselors, volunteers and community mental health center staff, they said.
This is to encourage people to share their concerns and enable referrals to group support or individual therapy as needed, they said.
Psychological resilience is not just about telling victims to "be strong," said Chang Chueh (張珏), president of the Taiwan Federation for Mental Health.
It is about connecting schools, families and communities into a safety network, she said.
Triage and follow-up systems should be established, while training for teachers and volunteers should be strengthened, she said.
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