Tsunami Disaster - Psychosocial Care for Children [PDF] - Nimhans

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* 5-year-old boy Krishna is a 5-year-old boy. He lost his father about a year ago due tosome illness. He has a younger brother who is two and half years old and an elder brother who iseighteen years old. Prior to the tsunami, Krishna had been staying with his mother and youngerbrother. The elder brother who is very irresponsible was hardly there with the family. Krishna’smother used to sell fish to run the family. On the day of the disaster, Krishna and his brother hadbeen playing with two other children from their locality while their mother had gone to the seashoreto collect fish. The two children were saved by the neighbours when the waves struck the village.However Krishna’s mother was swept away by the sea. For five days Krishna’s mother was missing.On the sixth day, her body was found and Krishna was informed about his mother’s death.Currently, Krishna and his brother stay in a house where seven other families are staying after thedisaster. Krishna has become very restless since the disaster. He would always run around, pull andpush others, snatch things from peers. The workers in the Balwadi find it difficult to manage him. Heis also over familiar with strangers and keeps trying to attract their attention. If anyone asks himabout his mother, he bluntly retorts that she is dead. Krishna’s two and a half year old brother hasdisturbed sleep and someone has to hold him close so that he gets sleep.When the CLW visited the place where Krishna was staying, he was found running around ina jolly mood. He was quite friendly with the CLW. The CLW gave him a paper and a pencil todraw. Though restless, he took 4-5 pages and made some scratches on them, one after the other.On asking him what he had drawn, he said that the first picture was that of the tsunami and theconsecutive four drawings he made were that of boats. Then CLW made the face of a woman andshowed it to Krishna. He remained quiet for some time and then remarked that the picture lookedlike that of his mother.* 8-year-old boy Vijayan lost both his parents in the tsunami. Vijayan was put in an Orphanage.However, after few days Vijayan returned to the village from the orphanage and started livingon his own. He would at times stay with his uncle and aunt, or at a neighbor’s place. He would eatfood given by the people from the locality. At times he would not eat at all. After leaving the orphanage,he attended school for two days. He stopped going to school after that. Due to his continuousabsence, the teacher visited his place. At that time Vijayan was not at home. On hearing that theteacher had come to meet him, he went to school. He told the teacher that he did not want to liveanymore, and that he had left the orphanage as he had not been given proper food and had oftenbeen scolded badly. Vijayan now comes to the school. However, he sits alone most of the time.When he mixes with other children in his group, he tends to disturb them. While playing cricket, heinsists that he will only bat. He comes to school, collects the food packets provided in the schooland often walks out of the class. Vijayan does not have any permanent caregiver now.* 15-year-old girl Kavita lost both her parents in the tsunami. She now lives with heruncle’s family. She remains upset most of the time. When the CLW visited her, she was quiet andrefused to talk. She looked distressed and helpless. The CLW drew the picture of a lady andshowed it to her. This acted as a stimulus. Kavita started weeping and then she disclosed that she34 INFORMATION MANUAL 3: TSUNAMI PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN
had lost her mother in the tsunami, and she misses her and that she is upset about losing her parents.After ventilating her feelings, she looked much relaxed.CHILDREN WHO HAVE BECOME SINGLE PARENT§ The child might find it difficult to cope with the loss of a parent. The surviving parent mightfind it difficult to address the emotional needs of the child as he/she will himself/herself beupset with the loss of the spouse. The CLW can help the child express his/her feelings.Encourage the child to talk about the good times that he/she shared with his/her parentwhen he/she was alive.§ The CLW might need to work with the surviving parent so that the parent is empoweredto take care of the child.§ The CLW needs to help the child to adapt to a new family structure.§ Help the child to normalize by encouraging him/her to follow a routine, going to school,mix with peers and to step out to play.* 16-year-old boy Selvam and his father had been to the sea for fishing on the day when thetsunami struck their village. On their return, they found that everything had been destroyed near theseashore. Selvam found that his house was washed away. He found his younger brother and sisterin a camp. After one day, the dead body of Selvam’s mother was found. Selvam’s father has startedtaking increased amounts of alcohol. The father does not do any work. Selvam has to take theentire responsibility of looking after his younger siblings, cooking, getting compensations etc. He isvery distressed. He says that he is aware of what death is but he is only worried about the twosiblings who are still too young. He feels a lot for his father but is unable to help him. He says thatearlier he was a very easygoing person but since the tsunami, life has changed for him. He feelsconfused at times and wonders how he will be able to fulfill so many responsibilities.CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE REMARRIED§ Children who have a new parent to adjust with, will find this change threatening. Hence,they need to be reassured.§ Some time and space has to be given for natural bonding.§ It is important to ensure that the child has some quality time with the parent alone so thathe/she does not reject the new parent.§ Ensure that the basic needs of the child are being met.§ Be available to talk and discuss their fears and apprehensions when they need.§ The CLW might have to intervene incase the child is being neglected.TOT INFORMATION MANUAL - 1 35
Page 2 and 3: Childhood is a period of growth and
Page 4 and 5: IMPACT OF THE DISASTERON CHILDRENCh
Page 7 and 8: ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨Death of loved ones
Page 9 and 10: Infants„ No comprehension but sen
Page 11 and 12: After a horrifying disaster like th
Page 13 and 14: * 8-year-old Murthy’s family was
Page 15 and 16: He has collected some fifty biscuit
Page 17 and 18: Remember that these behaviors are a
Page 19 and 20: UNDERSTAND EMOTIONAL REACTIONSIt is
Page 21 and 22: Reassure the childChildren need a l
Page 23 and 24: they get a sense of self worth as t
Page 25 and 26: Preschoolers· Follow regular routi
Page 27 and 28: lllllllllMake sure that the childre
Page 29 and 30: CLW: How do you feel about the inci
Page 31 and 32: The mother remains upset with the f
Page 33: SPECIAL CHILDRENIt is now a well-re
Page 37 and 38: her locality. She was unable to tel
Page 39 and 40: Role of Different CaregiversSCHOOL
Page 41 and 42: ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP
Page 43 and 44: ¨ Children develop understandingCh
Page 45 and 46: Step oneForm a trusting relationshi
Page 47 and 48: Drawing 2 1 1 1Puppets 1 1 2 2Clay
Page 49 and 50: ARTWORKAt the start, let the child
Page 51 and 52: Helping children to cope with loss
Page 53 and 54: Name of the activityPurposeAgegroup
Page 55 and 56: Name of the activityPurposeAgegroup
Page 57 and 58: · The child has to respond to the
Page 59 and 60: Process· They first need to draw o
Page 61 and 62: · Have a discussion on how he/she
Page 63 and 64: Just like the candle if people go a
Page 65 and 66: BEST MEMORY PICTUREMaterialDrawing
Page 67 and 68: · Each child gets a chance to thin
Page 69 and 70: studies or being good friends or ha
Page 71 and 72: ¨ Provides a platform for the chil
Page 73 and 74: Outcome¨ Provides an understanding
Page 75 and 76: Process· Pick up one issue say ‘
Page 77 and 78: PAPER CUTTINGAsk children to cut bi
Page 79 and 80: feel when they are idle, the kind o
Page 81 and 82: SAY NICE THINGSAsk the children to
Page 83 and 84: TOT INFORMATION MANUAL - 1 83
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TOT INFORMATION MANUAL - 1 85
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Page 101 and 102:
REFERENCES§ American Red Cross (20
Page 103 and 104:
WHAT WE KNOW...§ Intense emotional
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