JEDDAH: The Jeddah floods in November has had severe psychological effects on residents directly and indirectly affected by the disaster.
Some have reportedly started to develop aquaphobia — a fear of water.
Regular health writer for Ashraq Al-Awsat Dr. Abdul Hafeez Khoja wrote about a young girl who stopped drinking water following the floods.
A survivor of the disaster, she was said to have been extremely traumatized after seeing her family’s suffering.
According to Khoja, it would be difficult for children and the elderly to recover mentally from such a tragedy.
Children are affected because they are forced to leave their toys and homes behind, while elderly people may initially appear to have recovered, only to develop psychological complications a few months later.
Khoja, however, believes that the level of awareness regarding the importance of counseling has increased post disaster.
“People are now more concerned. Families are asking for counseling for themselves as well as their children.”
Khoja stressed more training is needed for consultants at schools who are in daily contact with children most affected psychologically by the floods.
Deputy manager of the Saudi Psychiatric Association Dr. Mohammad Shawish said the organization has arranged training sessions for individuals attached to flood victims. They are providing training for both men and women.
There are 53 psychiatric volunteers who are now counseling families affected by the disaster, with 70 benefiting so far, Shawish added.
He claimed victims were initially too busy fulfilling basic needs such as finding food, shelter and transportation for their children, which may have prevented them from seeking counseling in the first place.
Shawish added non-Saudis as well as Saudis could benefit from the association’s help. He also said people from different social backgrounds visit the organization, while pointing out no study has yet been conducted to identify trends.
The volunteer counselors use different methods to treat victims including psychotherapy, group and individual counseling, cognitive therapy and specific therapy for children.
Relief and anti-depression medication is also given in some severe cases.
