In these days when the earthquake disaster ravaged our country, we are spending days that we will never forget as a country. While following the news moment by moment, we are trying to provide assistance to the disaster area by showing all the support we can. In these difficult days we live as a society, there are a few things we can do to support our citizens in the disaster area and to protect our own mental health. Or you may be unresponsive. It is normal for individuals to react abnormally in such unusual and unusual situations. Don't feel guilty for the reactions you give (or fail to give). Give your mind time to grasp the extraordinary situation you have experienced or witnessed.
If you are not in the earthquake zone, try to return to your daily routines after giving the necessary help and sharing. It is important for all of us to follow the news from the earthquake area, but being exposed to images all day without doing anything else can cause you to be traumatized even if you are not there. In order to help earthquake victims in the best way possible, we must first protect our own health. Likewise, try to keep your children away from television and social media as much as possible. However, children will try to understand the events happening around them and will ask you questions. In this case, instead of hiding the earthquake from your children, you can satisfy their curiosity with short and simple answers.
Do not share the earthquake moment, traumatic images (especially the moments of being pulled out of the rubble) on social media and try not to spread the shared images any more. Although we all try to be aware of the events there, these images are a reminder of great pain and loss for our citizens who experienced the earthquake. These images that will appear in the media create an environment that will constantly be triggered for these citizens, who will perhaps try to improve themselves for years.
Finally, our volunteer colleagues in the earthquake area are working hard to provide psychosocial support to our citizens. The first application made at this point is Psychological First. It helps. Psychological First Aid; An environment with features such as security, tranquility, bonding with others, hope and self-sufficiency is created, and in this way, the emotional weight and shock experienced by our citizens who are victims of disasters after the earthquake is tried to be reduced. Even though PIY is implemented by our colleagues, you can approach our earthquake victims with the right method, taking into account the warnings in its content, and you can support them in the most correct way during this intense emotional process.
What to do in PIY ;
● First of all, the basic needs of the earthquake victim and, if necessary, their medical needs are met. Afterwards, short, accurate and continuous information flow is ensured (safety).
● If the earthquake survivor wants to talk and express their feelings, without interruption
is approached in a warm and friendly way. strong>listen. If he does not want to tell, he is not insisted on by asking questions (calmness)● Helping earthquake survivors to be together and establish relationships with their close friends, family and loved ones ( bonding with others)
● Feeling competent in meeting their own needs (if he really has enough power) to be encouraged and encouraged (being self-sufficient). Finally, when people state their different needs, the resources they can reach these needs are explained (hope).
● Earthquake survivors should not be forced to tell their stories, especially to go into personal details (reducing calmness). Earthquake victims should not express an opinion about their personal behaviors or beliefs about 'why they experienced this event' (reduces self-efficacy)
● Finally, never make promises that you cannot keep and provide services that are available these days when all kinds of support are needed. Do not criticize and rescue activities in the presence of earthquake victims (reduces hope and tranquility).
As a nation, we always good luck to us. We will heal our wounds together.
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