2023-09-10 12:52:19
Victims of the earthquake that struck central Morocco face difficult psychological conditions due to the painful experiences they went through due to the tragedy, such as the pain of losing loved ones, escaping death, and anxiety regarding the occurrence of other earthquakes.
Psychologists have warned of the need to pay special attention to earthquake victims, by providing them with immediate psychological support, in order to alleviate their pain and help them overcome this ordeal, especially since the impact of the shock is still strong.
Hundreds are still spending their nights outdoors, fearing the specter of another earthquake.
A Moroccan village became ruins following the earthquake
Severe psychological effects
Psychotherapist, Muhammad Al-Baroudi, confirmed in an interview with Sky News Arabia that the devastating earthquake would have negative psychological effects on those who lived through the events of this disaster.
These effects can be limited to “a group of disorders, mainly represented by panic attacks, anxiety, manifestations of fear, and a low level of self-esteem as a result of feelings and feelings of guilt.”
He continued: “In addition to post-traumatic stress disorder, which constitutes one of the most important psychological disorders during the crisis period, which continues for several days, weeks, and perhaps months and years, as a result of the tragic events that these individuals experienced as a result of the devastating natural disaster.”
He added that the impact of the disaster “may also lead to sleep disturbances or insomnia in general, which is one of the severe psychological effects resulting from feelings of panic and fear among a group of those affected by the earthquake, as well as the families of the victims, especially children.”
Some other psychological disorders appear among earthquake victims and their families, such as depression, which may reach a severe level that requires psychological medical intervention, through psychotherapy classes and psychiatric medications, so that a person does not reach the point of feeling guilty or attempting suicide due to his inability to help others during the tragic events that occurred. He saw her during the tragedy, according to the expert.
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The need to provide psychological support
In the same context, Muhammad Al-Baroudi said: “The residents of the affected areas need immediate and urgent psychological support and support, especially the category of affected victims and the families and relatives of the dead. The same support must also be provided to the rescue teams and paramedics, given the extent of the destruction and psychological fragility of some of these people who may have lost their lives.” “They cannot bear the sight of material and human losses.”
He stressed the need for the government, especially the Ministry of Health, as well as civil society activities, to be prepared to recruit doctors and psychologists, as well as social assistants, in order to accompany and provide psychological support to this affected group.
He pointed out the need to pay attention to the group of children whose psychological health may be affected and reflected in the level of academic achievement, as they may exhibit symptoms such as distraction, lack of concentration, manifestations of fear, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorders, all of which are psychological symptoms that may negatively affect the psychological structure of the child and adolescent alike. .
Aerial shots of the extent of the destruction in Morocco
The importance of digital platforms
The speaker called for “establishing remote psychological support cells, via digital platforms, in order to contact specialists who have some symptoms or psychological disorders as a result of this earthquake, as well as to confront the effects of post-traumatic stress among all segments of society who lived through the tragic events.”
The psychological expert urged parents and families in general to avoid, as much as possible, indulging in watching news reporting the events of the devastating earthquake and to stay away from it for those suffering from psychological fragility so that their condition does not deteriorate.
He advised children to stay away from social media sites during these times that broadcast the events of the devastating earthquake so as not to affect their psychological structure and physical and mental health.
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