By Eddie O. Barrita
CEBU CITY, Nov. 2 (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has assured there were no manifestations of mental health problem among super typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu.
The DSWD 7 assurance was made after the World Health Organization released a statement that at least 800,000 survivors of the typhoon have suffered from different levels of mental health problem.
The displaced typhoon victims are reportedly suffering from common or serious mental health disorders like hallucinations, excessive anxieties, social withdrawal, changes in eating or sleeping habits, strong feelings of anger, substance abuse, excessive complaints of physical ailments, frequent outbursts of anger, hyperactivity, persistent nightmares and frequent temper tantrums.
DSWD 7 social disaster risk reduction management focal person Jenny Abastillas said the victims might have experienced trauma but are now coping up and are working hard to bounce back from the disaster.
Abastillas said there is no need for them to conduct debriefing sessions because those who were affected by the typhoon in Cebu are no longer displaced.
“In Cebu, I think it is no longer necessary because people are thinking of the rehabilitation that we are trying to work out now. But in Leyte, there are still many displaced people,” she said.
Abastillas acknowledged the help of teachers trained in psycho-social intervention who helped DSWD in conducting sessions with children.
“We only have 20 personnel who are trained on how to debrief and we are aiming to ask funding for new personnel next year,” Abastillas said. (PNA)