Let’s talk and be well

Friday, April 7, 2017

"'Why should I talk?' That was the first questing that came to my mind," says Rani, "I didn't want to be a part of a counselling programme where I had to talk about what I was going through. In our culture depression is a taboo. People think there's something wrong with your head and even if you become ok, they continue to look at you that way."

Rani lost many family members including two children during the war in the North of Sri Lanka. Returning home when the war was over and rebuilding her life without those she loved was hard. It was harder to talk about the pain. So she began to isolate herself and her pain began to manifest in anger outbursts.

"When I was invited to become a part of the Therapy Group in my village, I was very reluctant at first," she says, "but when I began to listen to the others in the group and realise that they too were going through loss and pain, I felt comfortable."

Following the return and resettlement of communities who were forced to flee their homes due to conflict, World Vision commenced its first Mental Health Project in 2010 in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.  People living in the North have experienced prolonged conflict, displacement and extreme poverty. As families resettle in their villages and re-establish their livelihoods, mental health and well-being was identified as an urgent and a most important need.

Inter Personal Therapy Group was one of the methods the Project used to help communities deal with grief. The Groups were managed by Community Support Officers (CSOs) who were trained in Psychological First-Aid (PFA), soft skills in effective counselling, identifying mental illness and psychological disorders, and directing those who need further medical or psychosocial care. They are also trained to provide one-on-one psychosocial support for individuals and families.

The support group therapy model focuses on interpersonal relationships and aims to reduce the symptoms of depression through social and interpersonal functioning. This has already reduced the distress among parents and has shown a positive impact on their children as well. 

"In the group we grieve together, console and support each other, hope together and journey towards healing," says Thanuja, who is also part of the group, "We sometimes need to talk about the pain again and again and it helps. But we never remain in hopelessness anymore. And what we share within the group, remains within the group."

While World Vision's first Mental Health Project was supported by the Government of Australia, a second Project was also commenced in 2016 with the support of the EU.  Mental Health Awareness Programmes and trainings are also conducted through the Project focusing especially on the key community contacts such as local shop owners, community leaders, teachers, and spiritual leaders with who communities have common and frequent interaction with. 

"You will never completely heal from the loss of a family member," says Rajini, "You will continue to miss them and you will always have that empty space they have left within you. But you still need to move on for the sake of others and even for yourself and have new hopes and plans."

World Vision will continue to support communities in the North in their journey towards healing.