PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION. Over 30 participants from Lanao del Norte’s Department of Agrarian Reform join the psychosocial processing session by Xavier Ateneo Psychology Department in line with the ongoing crisis in Marawi City. Contributed photo.
By Jason Manaois
The ongoing Marawi crisis has greatly affected Christian, Muslim, and Lumad communities, for over a month now, said Lanao del Norte’s Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regional director Faisar A Mambuay on Wednesday, July 19.
Mambuay stressed that a number of the department’s employees have been agonizing over their damaged properties and displacement of their loved ones from their hometown.
After identifying the needs of their employees, DAR Region 10 held a relief operation that is accompanied with a debriefing session. They tapped the expertise of Xavier Ateneo Psychology Department to do the psychosocial processing session.
The World Health Organization acknowledges the need to work on mental health and psychosocial support in times when people or the population is exposed to extreme stress such as internally displaced persons, disaster survivors, and victims of terrorism.
In addition, Unicef defines “psychosocial” as “the interconnection between psychological and social processes and the fact that each continually interacts with and influences the other. … The composite term ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Support’ (MHPSS) is used to describe any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorder.”
Psychosocial support is a non-therapeutic intervention that helps a person cope with the stressors at home or at work.
The psychosocial processing session with DAR-Lanao del Norte started with an input on “Psychoeducation: Psychological First Aid and Stress Reaction in Crisis Situation.”
The participants were then asked to perform a mindfulness exercise, a relaxation technique of which the participants can do on their own.
“Kwentuhan” or group processing followed, with the purpose of (1) listening to one another’s stories, (2) validating different opinions, (3) soliciting suggestions or information on problem-solving and coping, and (4) to be aware that their experiences are shared, common, and important.
To end the session, participants were asked to do a family collage that depicts their vision for the future of their family and of Marawi City.
Participants responded how helpful the activity, that they were able to unload their emotional burdens that they have been carrying for some time.
They hope that the crisis would end soon so that they can start rebuilding their homes and move forward. They are asking for continued support from the government, fellow Filipinos, and humanitarian organizations to help rehabilitate Marawi City.
The Xavier Ateneo Psyc team was led by Maita D Ignacio MA RPm, department point person for psychosocial community engagement, together with Jason O Manaois MA RPm, Apsary Diamla MA RPsy, Angelli Pacamalan RPm, and Reynan Salo.
Over 30 participants joined the said activity held at Blu Sands, Initao, Misamis Oriental.
Among the attendees were regional chief admin officer Joel Angelo M Paler, Lanao del Norte’s provincial agrarian program officer Jamil P Amatonding Jr.∎