Surviving Trauma

Sydney, 7 January 2005 - St John of God Health Services, a not-for-profit provider of mental health care services, has compiled the following tips to help the tsunami survivors and their family/friends deal with the emotional aftermath of the disaster.

Dr Gary Galambos, consultant psychiatrist with St John of God Health Services, says that after focusing on the immediate ‘survival needs’ of victims, such as clean water, food, shelter and medical care, emotional support will help to prevent mental disorders from arising downstream.

“Mental disorders associated with exposure to natural disasters do not necessarily manifest immediately following the event.

“The onset of mental health problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), clinical depression and prolonged grief reactions are typically diagnosed at least six to 18 months following the traumatic event,” said Dr Galambos.

Tips for providing emotional support:

1. When victims wish to talk about their experiences, validate their feelings of fear, shock, anxiety, grief and anger as normal reactions. Listen to them and share the emotional pain of their experiences. Tell them that you are there to support them and keep in regular contact.

2. Give them hope. Tell them you can see the light at the end of the tunnel if they cannot.

3. Reassure them that the disaster and its consequences was not their fault (especially children). Remind them it was unpreventable; they were running on instinct to survive and did their best at the time of the crisis.

4. Maximise their social supports. Try to reunite them with their family, friends and community.

5. Encourage early professional treatment for survivors who might be particularly vulnerable to developing a mental disorder down the track, such as those who experienced past traumas or have pre-existing mental health problems.

Tips for recognising PTSD:

Professional help should be sought if people are experiencing any of the following symptoms of PTSD:

1. Persistent re-experiencing of the diaster through images, dreams or flashbacks.

2. Extreme avoidance of reminders of the event or uncharacteristic social withdrawal.

3. Persistently high arousal levels, insomnia, poor concentration or memory disturbance.

4. Persistent emotional numbness (“shell shock”).

5. Persistent or severe depression of mood, irritability or anger, or behaviour suggestive of deliberate self-harm.

St John of God Health Services

1300 656 273

St John of God Health Services is the largest not-for-profit provider of private mental health care in NSW. It provides inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for people experiencing mental health problems.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS:

	2UE (9/1/05)
	2GB (11/1/05)
	Central Courier (10/1/05)
	Hawkesbury Courier (17/1/05)
	Sydney Observer Magazine (column to appear in Feb issue)

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Citation suggestion: Dr Gary Galambos, Surviving Trauma (http://www.ep.org.au/gg/int/survtrauma.htm) [date accessed]

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