Empower Pacific provides psychosocial support to those affected by TC Yasa

A non-governmental organisation providing psychosocial support to Fijians affected by TC Yasa says there has been a long-lasting impact on mental health due to factors such as safe living environment, employment, health risk and access to economic resources.

Empower Pacific deployed their senior counsellors and social workers from Suva, Lautoka and Labasa to work with their trained psychological first aid volunteers in Labasa and Savusavu.

CEO Patrick Morgam says they also sent counsellors with the government teams to the Lomaiviti and Lau groups.

Morgam says 1,581 people have received psychosocial support including several group awareness sessions.

He says they have also provided trauma counselling and social work support.

They also distributed bottled water and women’s dignity packs donated by the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Empower Pacific has previously deployed teams of qualified senior counsellors and social workers with trained psychological first aid volunteers during the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Evan, Winston, Josie, Keni, Sarai and Harold.

You can call Empower Pacific’s 24-hour counselling helpline numbers on 7765 626 for Digicel users and 2937 141 for Vodafone users.