cross cultural mental health and the indian ocean tsunami
TRANSCRIPT
The most powerful earthquake in 40 years erupted under the The most powerful earthquake in 40 years erupted under the Indian Ocean near Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004. It caused giant, Indian Ocean near Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004. It caused giant,
deadly waves to crash ashore in nearly a dozen countries, killing deadly waves to crash ashore in nearly a dozen countries, killing tens of thousands. tens of thousands.
THE TSUNAMITHE TSUNAMI
ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKEABOUT THE EARTHQUAKEThe 9.0 earthquake occurred along 1,200 km of The 9.0 earthquake occurred along 1,200 km of seabed at a depth of 10 kmseabed at a depth of 10 km
it was so powerful, it made the earth wobble on it was so powerful, it made the earth wobble on its axis and permanently altered the regionits axis and permanently altered the region
it generated energy equivalent to the it generated energy equivalent to the simultaneous explosion of 23,000 Hiroshima simultaneous explosion of 23,000 Hiroshima atomic bombsatomic bombs
it moved small islands off Sumatra's coast by it moved small islands off Sumatra's coast by as much as 20 and the north-western tip of as much as 20 and the north-western tip of Sumatra by 36 metresSumatra by 36 metres
ABOUT THE TSUNAMIABOUT THE TSUNAMI
The tsunami struck on a Sunday morning when The tsunami struck on a Sunday morning when families had gathered for a day at the beachfamilies had gathered for a day at the beach
When the water receded, adults and children When the water receded, adults and children alike ran to pick up fish lay flapping in the sandalike ran to pick up fish lay flapping in the sand
The first wave was small in comparison to the The first wave was small in comparison to the destructive second wave. In Banda Aceh, destructive second wave. In Banda Aceh, survivors described the approaching wave as survivors described the approaching wave as “…a black wall the height of a coconut tree.”“…a black wall the height of a coconut tree.” [70-100 ft tall][70-100 ft tall]
0759
0930 1.0
0830
Tsunami Strike TimesSunday, December 26, 2004
0830
09002.0
09303.5
10006.0
KOH LANTA, THAILAND
PHUKET BEACH, THAILANDPHUKET BEACH, THAILAND
WORLDWIDE SUMMARYWORLDWIDE SUMMARY
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA
BANDA ACEH SUMMARYBANDA ACEH SUMMARY
127,000 dead. 30,000 missing127,000 dead. 30,000 missing
40% municipal employees perished40% municipal employees perished
90% all public buildings destroyed90% all public buildings destroyed
12 of 21 health centers, 5 of 7 hospitals 12 of 21 health centers, 5 of 7 hospitals destroyeddestroyed
100 schools rendered unusable100 schools rendered unusable
Coastal fisheries, rice fields destroyedCoastal fisheries, rice fields destroyed
BANDA ACEH SUMMARYBANDA ACEH SUMMARY
2/3 of all land records lost2/3 of all land records lost
Majority of bank records goneMajority of bank records gone
Cement industry ruinedCement industry ruined
Main commercial strips leveledMain commercial strips leveled
Warehouses flattenedWarehouses flattened
8-12 inches of dense, salt-saturated mud 8-12 inches of dense, salt-saturated mud covers the city up to 3 km from the shorecovers the city up to 3 km from the shore
OPERATION UNIFIED ASSISTANCE
275 Medical Personnel:Physicians, Nurses, Corpsman, Specialists
USNS MERCY
►Floating Tertiary care hospital► 1000 bed capacity, 250 for OUA
► 12 Operating Rooms, CT, Pharm, O2► Full crew – 1,200+ personnel
► Built a Supertanker in ’74, convt’d ’86► 894 ft long, disp 70,000 t.
► Last key mission: Persian Gulf War 1990► Instances of previous use of flight deck
for patient operations: 0
90 Medical Personnel:Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers
18 Pub Health Personnel:Physicians, Nurses, Environmental Health,Medical engineerPsychologistsSocial workers
**Primary mission: Project support ashore. Primary mission: Project support ashore.
Project Primary Care medical capability ashore: Project Primary Care medical capability ashore: Primary Medical Care - Internal Medicine, Primary Medical Care - Internal Medicine,
Infectious Disease, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Optometry, Optometry, Dental, and Dental, and Mental HealthMental Health..
Project other support functions ashore: Project other support functions ashore: Disease Surveillance, Field Testing, Laboratory Services, Disease Surveillance, Field Testing, Laboratory Services, Immunizations, Insect Control, Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Immunizations, Insect Control, Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Assistance, Engineer, Supply Distribution and field-based Assistance, Engineer, Supply Distribution and field-based services determined by HN and NGO partners.services determined by HN and NGO partners.
**Secondary mission: Shipboard Health ServicesSecondary mission: Shipboard Health Services
MISSIONMISSION
1
MERCY OPERATIONS SEQUENCEMERCY OPERATIONS SEQUENCE
RTHP San Diego
05 May6 Jan 29 Jan
Singapore VIC Banda Aceh, ID
Majuro, MH
22 Apr
Transit TransitHADR Assistance
Ops
Medical / Dental TSC
Events
LOCATIONKepualuan
Alor, ID
Dili, TP
SingaporeU/W from San
Diego
Pearl Harbor
3 Feb 19 Mar
Madang, PG
As of 17 Mar 05
UnclassifiedUnclassified
USPHS1ST Rotation
INDIA
INDONESIA
Colombo
U-tapao
SRI LANKA
Medan
Med Team
Aceh
2 x C-130
LPA – CJTF 629Helos x 2
Khao Lak
1 x DVI Team
Male
Med Team
Ships x 4Helos x 3Fixed wing x 3Medical Team x 4
Ships x 5AN-32 x 7MI-8/17 x 6Helos x 3Fixed Wing x 2Medical Team x 2
C-130 x 6B-707 x 1UH-1 x4
LST x 2
C-130 x 5CH-47 x 4Super Puma x 4
Darwin
Hospital ShipHelos x 2
French Ships X 2Helos x 8 Med TeamSwiss Helos x 3ETA: TBD
FFG ARS2 x helos
Ship x 1 Enroute
C-130 x 1Ships x 2LPD/AOR CH-47 x 3 HH-60 x 2Med Team
Participating Nation Military OperationsParticipating Nation Military Operations
C-130 x 1 Ships x 2
C-130 x 2 Ships x 2Eng Team
UNCLASSIFIEDUNCLASSIFIED
C-130 x 1Water System
Field Hospital
C-130 x 2Ships x 2Helos x 3Med Team Eng Team
Field Hospital Eng Team
Fixed wing x 1MP Team
C-130 x 1
Hospital Ship
Ship x 1C-130 x 2Helos x 2Med TeamEng Team
RNZAF B-757 in region
MeulabohShip x 1 Helo x 1 DART Team
ROWPU x 4Med TeamEng Team
Forensic Team
C-130 x 1LST to IDLST to SL
Helos x 4
K.L.
Helos x 1C-160 x 2
Field HospEng Team x 2ALT x 2
HH-60 x 2 Field Hospital
Ships x 30 Helos x 30 Fixed Wing x 22
Med Team
Eng Team
C-130 x 2
AUS
AUT
BGD
IND
JPN
KOR SGP
NZL
MYSGBR
FRA
DEU
PAKCHE
CAN
BRN NOR
LKA
IDA
THA
Ships x 7
Ships x 12 Helos x 13 Fixed Wing x 5 Ships x 28
Helos x 2Fixed Wing x 15
USA
26
Click to edit Master text stylesClick to edit Master text styles
Second levelSecond level
Third levelThird level
Fourth levelFourth level
Fifth levelFifth level
CLERK
INDIA
CHINA
PHILIPPINES
Diego Garcia
Medan
Jakarta
B-Aceh
Male
Phuket
U-Tapao
ColomboMALDIVES
SRI LANKA
AUSTRALIA
SINGAPORE
INDONESIA
MALAYSIA
Darwin
THAILAND
Butterworth
Sumatra
Meulaboh
THAILAND35 NGOs Operating - Thai Red Cross: food distribution- World Vision Int’l: building materials, water/sanitation facilities
THAILAND35 NGOs Operating - Thai Red Cross: food distribution- World Vision Int’l: building materials, water/sanitation facilities
ANDAMAN / NICOBAR- ICRC- Catholic Relief Services: home rebuilding
ANDAMAN / NICOBAR- ICRC- Catholic Relief Services: home rebuilding
MALAYSIA (Near KL)- Malaysian Red CrescentMALAYSIA (Near KL)- Malaysian Red Crescent
MALDIVES17 NGOs Operating- Save the Children
MALDIVES17 NGOs Operating- Save the Children
SINGAPORE- ICRC Regional HubSINGAPORE- ICRC Regional Hub
SRI LANKA84 NGOs Operating- ICRC: household items, shelter, water, medical care- IFRC: household items, shelter, food, water, medical care- Oxfam: water, sanitation- IOM: water- Care Int’l: general relief items- Mercy Corps: cash-for- work, household items, food, water
SRI LANKA84 NGOs Operating- ICRC: household items, shelter, water, medical care- IFRC: household items, shelter, food, water, medical care- Oxfam: water, sanitation- IOM: water- Care Int’l: general relief items- Mercy Corps: cash-for- work, household items, food, water
Civilian Relief OperationsCivilian Relief Operations
Banda Aceh- Indonesian Red Cross: cooking/ hygiene items; water/sanitation- World Vision Int’l: food aid- Medecins Sans Frontieres- Mercy Corps: cash-for-work, food, relief supplies- IOM: shuttling IDPs- Care Int’l: food
Banda Aceh- Indonesian Red Cross: cooking/ hygiene items; water/sanitation- World Vision Int’l: food aid- Medecins Sans Frontieres- Mercy Corps: cash-for-work, food, relief supplies- IOM: shuttling IDPs- Care Int’l: food
Meulaboh- Indonesian Red Cross- Medecins Sans Frontieres- Mercy Corps: cash-for- work, food
Meulaboh- Indonesian Red Cross- Medecins Sans Frontieres- Mercy Corps: cash-for- work, food
Medan- Medecins Sans Frontieres- IOM: shuttling IDPs
Medan- Medecins Sans Frontieres- IOM: shuttling IDPs
INDONESIA68 NGOs OperatingINDONESIA68 NGOs Operating
Kuala Lumpur
UnclassifiedUnclassified
OUA MISSIONOUA MISSION(from 40,000 ft. level)(from 40,000 ft. level)
Part humanitarian relief
Part international diplomacy
Part global public relations
Part experiment in military-civilian joint operations
Constraints of timing– on-site arrival (6 weeks post-incident) defines
nature of med/surg and mental health activities
Constraints of access– to potential aid recipients, planning partners and
ready communication
Constraints of time (in theater)– limiting access to target populations and
organizations– limiting scope and scale of aid projects– limiting ability to leverage targets of opportunity
CONSTRAINTS TO MENTAL CONSTRAINTS TO MENTAL HEALTH MISSIONHEALTH MISSION
OPERATIONS PLANOPERATIONS PLAN
FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTHHEALTH
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIABANDA ACEH, INDONESIA
Mental Health InfrastructureMental Health InfrastructureAceh Province, IndonesiaAceh Province, Indonesia
Before the disaster– Psychiatry rare ~1/2 dozen in province– One psychiatric hospital. No institutionalized
system of community care for the seriously mentally ill.
– No psychology– No social work– Unable to determine the nature and extent
of role of Islamic leaders in psychosocial care
Before the disaster– One psychiatric hospital, 4 locked units– 2 short-stay units (male, female)– 2 long-stay units (male, female)– ~200 patient hospitalized
After the Tsunami– One flooded, marginally cleaned, still US
1950’s vintage psychiatric hospital– 60+ patients remain, the others died in the
wards or escaped as the waters rose
Mental Health InfrastructureMental Health InfrastructureAceh Province, IndonesiaAceh Province, Indonesia
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA
Factors promoting emergence of Factors promoting emergence of psychosocial symptomspsychosocial symptoms
The acute response phase of the disaster has passed
In addition to the enormous loss of life, there is widespread social disruption and economic and institutional destruction
Rebuilding is on a slow track because of endemic mismanagement and tepid political support for the province
Acute response phase has passed
Great loss of life + widespread social, economic and institutional disruption
Rebuilding slowed - mismanagement and tepid political support for the province
Unavoidable, omnipresent traumatic reminders (everything has been touched by earthquake / tsunami)
Factors promoting emergence of Factors promoting emergence of psychosocial symptomspsychosocial symptoms
The large number of missing delays the important process of grieving for many
Population has access the emotions of pain and loss and the Culture has language to express it
Emergence of religious justification of events
Unavoidable, omnipresent traumatic reminders (everything has been touched by the earthquake and tsunami)
Factors promoting emergence of Factors promoting emergence of psychosocial symptomspsychosocial symptoms
12 August 2005
“…the tsunami triggered an...unprecedented attention to the mental health of the survivors, many of whom saw their children or other family members carried away by the waves.”
The WHO suggested that:1) 50% of the 5 million affected people would experience
psychological distress that would fade without intervention over the course of a year or more.
2) Roughly 5% to 10% would develop more persistent problems, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other anxiety disorders that would be unlikely to resolve themselves without intervention.
3) And perhaps 1% to 2% would be left with incapacitating mental problems such as major depression or psychosis.
NEWSNEWSThe Tsunami’s Psychological AftermathThe Tsunami’s Psychological Aftermath
Mental Health ObservationsMental Health ObservationsBanda Aceh, IndonesiaBanda Aceh, Indonesia
Respectful reluctance to speak of events use of avoidance, redirection, rather than denial
Willingness and interest in speaking of events when topic arises unavoidably
An ability to express and share sadness– Father, son and former insurance agent
Mental Health ObservationsMental Health ObservationsBanda Aceh, IndonesiaBanda Aceh, Indonesia
Expressed optimism about the future and simply stated resignation about the tragedy
An understanding that events, feelings and function in the world are linked– the father and a foundation– psychosis and miscommunication
Faith and Psychosocial Resilience Faith and Psychosocial Resilience in Banda Acehin Banda Aceh
Islam teaches that human beings have no control over matters of life and death. The day of death for every individual is decided upon his birth.
Daily prayer ritual provides continuation of pre-disaster routine and reminder of God’s presence and will.
Islamic charities very active in humanitarian relief post-disaster
Faith and Psychosocial Resilience Faith and Psychosocial Resilience in Banda Acehin Banda Aceh
No well publicized modification of burial ritual for dead
No well publicized recommendations on mourning for the missing
No widespread dissemination of religious findings related to personal or collective culpability for the disaster
12 August 2005
NEWSNEWSThe Tsunami’s Psychological AftermathThe Tsunami’s Psychological Aftermath
“At the same time, many people who have worked with tsunami survivors are struck by their resilience. Asian culture, with its emphasis on group welfare over individual self-reliance, seems to have been a powerful, positive influence.”
Sadly, a long-standing familiarity with upheaval and tragedy may also have bolstered the coping mechanisms of many tsunami survivors. People here have a tough life to begin with,…The expectations in life are very different from those in the West. Many people…view the tsunami more as the latest obstacle life has thrown at them than as a cataclysmic blow.”
What Interventions Make Sense?What Interventions Make Sense?
InstitutionalInstitutional– Support existing institutionsSupport existing institutions– Rebuild destroyed onesRebuild destroyed ones
IndividualIndividual– Provide individual or group servicesProvide individual or group services
PopulationPopulation– Adapt well-heeled population interventions to Adapt well-heeled population interventions to
current cultural contextcurrent cultural context
Considerations for population Considerations for population psychosocial intervention in Acehpsychosocial intervention in Aceh
Restore homes, community, institutions and economic infrastructure
Provide psychosocial education through community leaders, networks and structures (“erte”)
Considerations for population Considerations for population psychosocial intervention in Acehpsychosocial intervention in Aceh
Primary care/mental health professional development– reconstitute preexisting established
professional structure
– consider primary and maternal child care cross-training
– Use health care professionals and paraprofessionals to disseminate pyscho-educational information
Considerations for population Considerations for population psychosocial intervention in Acehpsychosocial intervention in Aceh
Make substantial outreach to faith leaders to encourage:– a declaration of pardon to relieve followers
who were not able to perform death rituals– a statement clarifying position on the
personal/population blame for the disaster– advice to those whose loved ones are still
missing– the provision of faith-appropriate psycho-
educational information
THE HOME STRETCHTHE HOME STRETCH
““They knew to run…”They knew to run…”The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning HeraldBy Lindsay Murdoch, Correspondent in SimeulueBy Lindsay Murdoch, Correspondent in Simeulue
December 30, 2004 December 30, 2004 They knew to run on Simeulue, a palm-fringed island They knew to run on Simeulue, a palm-fringed island
closest to the epicentre of Sunday's devastating closest to the epicentre of Sunday's devastating earthquake.earthquake.
"Our ancestors have a saying - if there is an "Our ancestors have a saying - if there is an earthquake run for your life,"earthquake run for your life," Darmili, the mayor of Darmili, the mayor of the island, said yesterday. "Thousands of our people the island, said yesterday. "Thousands of our people were killed by a tsunami in 1907 and we have many were killed by a tsunami in 1907 and we have many earthquakes here."earthquakes here."
Only five of 70,000 villagers on Simeulue were killedOnly five of 70,000 villagers on Simeulue were killed, , all of them in the earthquake that struck at 7.55am all of them in the earthquake that struck at 7.55am last Sunday. Nobody perished in the five-metre-high last Sunday. Nobody perished in the five-metre-high walls of water that followed.walls of water that followed.
A NARROW ESCAPE
LAMNO
LAMNOIsolated from points
North, South and East
A WALK THROUGH LAMNO