Psychological First Aid for Semeru Survivors

Psychological First Aid for Semeru Survivors

27 January 2022

Human Initiative collaborated with the Alumni Association of the State Islamic University (IKALUIN) Jakarta and Mental Health Indonesia to provide psychosocial assistance service assistance to residents affected by the Semeru eruption in the form of Psychological First Aid.

The psychosocial assistance program started from Wednesday, December 22, 2021 until Monday, December 27, 2021. The psychosocial volunteer team has provided assistance at several locations, such as Kunir Kidul Village, Sumber Wuluh Village, Penanggal Village, and Candipuro Village.

As many as 300 residents affected by the Semeru eruption have received Psychological First Aid services. This number includes children to adults with emotional problems. Not only children and women who get psychosocial services, men are also served. Starting from excessive anxiety, worry, fear, or overthinking when the survivors remember the events when the Semeru eruption occurred.

Therefore, the Psychological First Aid assistance service is very helpful in easing the strong emotions that survivors feel due to the Semeru eruption. “It is normal for survivors to feel anxious, excessively worried or even afraid after the Semeru eruption disaster occurred,” said Hena Rustiana, the Head of Indonesian Mental Health.

Furthermore, she explained that among the survivors even things like that can interfere with their daily lives. Disturbances can range from not being able to work normally, overthinking, to sleeping difficulty. “In cases where the level is very disturbing, the survivors must immediately get a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further treatment,” Hena, who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Disaster Management at IKALUIN Jakarta, explained.

Psychosocial services are also provided to health workers, volunteers, educators, and posyandu cadres at the location. Mr. Muthori representing Human Initiative was also present to give a speech at this event. Also present at the event was Kak Ojan, a storyteller who helps provide educational materials through fairy tales related to Psychological First Aid for children.

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