A global experience shows that psychosocial support is crucial for the long-term recovery of earthquake survivors and their communities. Nepal is one of the highly earthquake vulnerable countries. After the earthquakes, Nepal started to see psychosocial support as one of the post-disaster priorities but felt the lack of proper training and counseling.
A global experience shows that psychosocial support is crucial for the long-term recovery of earthquake survivors and their communities. Nepal is one of the highly earthquake vulnerable countries. After the earthquakes, Nepal started to see psychosocial support as one of the post-disaster priorities but felt the lack of proper training and counseling.
CIUD believes in working in close coordination with the communities. The organization had supported many affected people with shelter.Many other organizations also provided immediate supplies to support the victims and families of the devastating earthquake that took place in 25th April 2015. Apart from any materialistic supports, in concern with the adverse impact of the earthquake on psychosocial well-being and mental health, CIUD planned a psychosocial counseling program for the earthquake victims of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur with support from UN-Habitat Shelter Support Project.
To support the people who were mentally disturbed and stressed (traumatic) by the earthquakes and to help them resume their normal life, CIUD conducted psychosocial training programs for the CIUD’s temporary shelter beneficiaries from Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur consecutively. It was not only limited to CIUD beneficiaries; but the program was open to anyone who was in need of the counseling.
About 775 people, most of whom were women, from different places within the valley were provided the quality counseling.
Sanu Chori Shrestha, a tailor by profession, of Sankhu says, “I was totally worried about the situation around me. I couldn’t open up with anyone, not even with my husband as I didn’t want to disturb him sharing my thoughts about what now after this devastating situation. The earthquake and its aftershocks had been affecting my work. Today, after participating on this counseling program I am in much relief now. The sessions you gave us help will really help us to come out of the trauma”.