Maharashtra floods: Shocked Mahad locals need mental health support, say experts

Ever since Amjad Kawchalirsquos home at Mahad bore the brunt of floods last month the 32yearold has struggled to sleep ldquoI used to supply milk in the village and had thirteen buffaloes As the water level increased I shifted them to safety but the entire cattle shed got damaged Next day three of my buffaloes went missing I havenrsquot got any compensation from the staterdquo said KawchaliKawchali is among several adults and children who are yet to come to terms with the July 22 deluge Children wake up in the middle of night crying out in fear said Mahad locals Experts said there is a need to take care of their emotional healthldquoMy 120yearold home was under water and we are scared to enter it even today as it is still filled with muck I have shifted to the house of my wifersquos relative at Kusgaon My children and wife are still in shockrdquo said KawchaliParvez Konchalat 45 another villager said ldquoMy kids scream in their sleep lsquopaani paanirsquo and I have lost my entire business and ancestral house I havenrsquot slept peacefully since the floodrdquo Konchalat has a stationerycumbook depot and the business was already struggling due to COVID ldquoThe savings were used up last year and with the flood even the little money that was left is gonerdquoParvez Konchalat lost his 100plusyearold ancestral house in the village in MahadKonchalat said ldquoWhenever it rains heavily we all fear the worst Earlier we would enjoy our food but today we do not even feel like eatingrdquoMauzam Pachnasari 45 used to support his and his late brotherrsquos family of nine including two kids by selling garments he procured from Mumbairsquos Crawford Market He said ldquoI was hoping to restart my business after the lockdown but our dreams were shattered Today the house constructed by my father in 1972 is a booby trap The walls have huge cracks and might collapse anytime The water had almost touched the ceiling and our furniture and fixtures are damagedrdquo Psychotherapist Dr Shivangi Pawar says such experiences can leave longterm scars on subconscious minds of victims and that they require mental health assistanceldquoWhen the village was cleaned nearly 50 per cent we returned with our kids but the scene was horrifying The children who were otherwise enjoying playing cricket and marbles in the open have nothing left for playingrdquo he said Pachnasari said none in his village has received counselling He said no compensation has come their way yet though an initial announcement of R10000 had been made for damaged housesAttempts to contact Aditi Thatkare Guardian Minister for Raigad did not yield any resultCiting a study Dr Sanjay Kumavat senior consulting psychiatrist and former deputy director of mental health Maharashtra government said such incidents disturb people below 25 years of age more He said such a situationmdashCOVID and flood backtobackmdashtriggers ldquoposttraumatic syndrome with symptoms like sleeplessness anxiety nightmares leading to suddenly awakening in the middle of the sleep nocturnal enuresis irritability leading to behavioural issues withdrawn behaviour poor food intake secondary depression viz crying spells suicidal behaviourrdquoWhat is expected of govt NGOsDr Kumavat said the Mahad locals particularly the kids first need ldquoEmotional First Aidrdquo ldquoProvide them with all necessary support to continue with their studies from gadgets to notebooks and even technological support for joining online classes Encourage them to get back to routine through play therapy opening schools in makeshift arrangements Arrange regular visits of counsellors to interact with them and provide counsellor assistance and if required even medication to help them bounce back in liferdquo he said adding that the childrenrsquos families too need to be counselled He added ldquoIf these issues continue to be untreated and ignored the young generation will have adverse psychological sociological and physiological impact on their overall growth and developmentrdquoDr Shivangi Pawar a clinical psychologist from Dadar said ldquoThe experience can leave longterm scars on the subconscious minds of the victims and that they require assistance from mental health professionalsrdquoDr Pawar listed a few tips to face the situation They include 1 allow yourself to feel sad or angry remember there is no right or wrong way to feel Understand that you have been through a distressing experience and give yourself permission to experience some reaction to it 2 spend time with people who are supportive familiar and respectful avoid people who are unpredictable and negative in their approach 3 seek professional help and practise meditation and other relaxing techniques which work for you Writing a journal or indulging in an expressive art form helps in processing your emotions 4 remember that you are coping up and you will only keep getting better here onwards The situation will change and you will be fine soon Think of the practical solutions instead of harbouring the feeling of regret and 5 do not bottle up your feelings Gradually thinking about and working through what has happened can assist in coming to terms with a traumatic experienceThis is the time to integrate public health principles into disaster mental health management she said