Provide a safe and stable environment
Guaranteeing living environment: It is crucial to provide survivors with a safe, comfortable and relatively quiet living environment. If they are in a temporary shelter, ensure that the structure is stable and can withstand possible aftershocks and bad weather. For example, arrange the space of the shelter reasonably to ensure sufficient per capita living area and avoid overcrowding. Provide warm beds, sufficient lighting and well-ventilated space. These material conditions can relax the survivors physically and reduce psychological pressure.
Information transparency and establishment of a sense of security: timely and accurately convey relevant information after the earthquake to survivors, such as aftershock monitoring, rescue progress, and supply of living materials. When people have a clear understanding of the surrounding environment and future situations, they will increase their psychological sense of security. For example, set up an information bulletin board to update important information regularly every day; or use broadcasting and other methods to allow survivors to obtain information at any time.
Establish a trusting relationship
Listening and accompanying: Accompanying people with psychological problems so that they feel that someone cares about their feelings. Listen carefully to their experiences in the earthquake and their inner fear, pain and other emotions, and don’t interrupt them easily. Show concern through eye contact, nodding, etc., to let them know that their emotions are recognized. For example, when survivors tell about their terrible experience of being trapped in the earthquake, hold their hands and give them emotional support.
Respect and understanding: Respect the feelings and coping methods of each survivor, and do not judge their emotional reactions or behaviors. Everyone has different psychological tolerance and expression methods when facing disasters. Some people may cry and make a fuss, while others may be silent. These are normal reactions. Understand their possible emotional fluctuations, such as anger, anxiety, depression, etc., and avoid treating these emotions as unreasonable.
Psychological counseling and intervention
Individual psychological counseling: Professional psychological counselors can use cognitive behavioral therapy and other methods to provide individual counseling for people with psychological problems. Help them identify and correct negative thinking patterns that may occur after the earthquake. For example, some survivors may overly blame themselves and think that it is their fault that caused the casualties of their loved ones. Counselors can guide them to look at the disaster objectively and realize that this is an irresistible natural disaster, not their personal responsibility. At the same time, help them learn skills to deal with emotions such as anxiety and fear, such as deep breathing training and relaxation training.
Group psychotherapy: Organizing survivors to participate in group psychotherapy activities is also an effective way. In a group environment, survivors can find that they are not alone, and others have similar experiences and emotions. By sharing each other’s stories and feelings, they can support and encourage each other. For example, a group psychotherapy with the theme of “Reconstruction after the earthquake – a journey of the soul” was carried out to guide members to discuss how to face difficulties in life and share their coping strategies.
Encourage social interaction and social support
Rebuilding social relationships: Encourage survivors to reconnect with family, friends, neighbors, etc. After the earthquake, social relationships may be damaged. Help them repair and strengthen these relationships by organizing community activities and family gatherings. For example, small literary and artistic activities can be held in temporary shelters to give everyone the opportunity to communicate and interact, and enhance the emotional bond between each other.
Building a social support network: Guide all sectors of society to provide support to survivors, including volunteer services, charitable donations, community mutual assistance, etc. Volunteers can provide survivors with life assistance while also giving psychological comfort; charitable donations can alleviate their pressure on economic and living materials; community mutual assistance can make them feel the power of the collective. For example, the community can organize volunteers to regularly provide life care and companionship chat services for the elderly or survivors with limited mobility.
Guide a positive attitude towards life and rebuild hope
Set goals and plan: Help survivors set some practical short-term and long-term goals, which can be about life reconstruction, such as rebuilding homes, finding jobs again, etc., or about personal growth, such as learning new skills. For example, provide vocational training information to survivors who have lost their jobs to help them plan their future career direction. By gradually achieving these goals, let them see the hope of life and enhance their confidence in the future.
Focus on the positive aspects: Guide survivors to focus on the positive aspects of life. Although they have experienced disasters such as earthquakes, there are still many things to be grateful for and cherish. For example, they survived the earthquake, received help from others, and saw the efforts of rescuers. Encourage them to record these positive things, review them every day, and cultivate a positive attitude.
About us: Superpangol, making the world less hurt
Superpangol is a professional, efficient and caring team of disaster solution experts, dedicated to providing people with all-round rescue and help in various natural disasters and emergencies. With rich experience, professional skills and advanced equipment, we are always at the forefront of disaster relief, working hand in hand with the affected people to overcome difficulties, striving to minimize the losses caused by disasters, protecting people’s lives and property, and rebuilding a beautiful home. With professional ability and sincere heart, if you are facing disaster protection problems and urgently need help, please contact us immediately! We will do our best to provide a solid sky for your safety and work together to paint a new picture of a better life.
