A non-governmental organisation providing counselling to Fijians affected by TC Yasa says heads of households provided with psychological first aid, trauma support and grief counselling are worried about their future and are uncertain about how to move forward as their cash crops have been destroyed, houses and belongings damaged and water systems disrupted.
Empower Pacific says with the academic year also about to begin – parents are worried about how they will provide for their children’s educational resources and other major expenses.
Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgam says while delivering psychological first aid in Bua, their team members identified that many individuals living with a disability are not only traumatized by their experiences post-TC Yasa, but they are also in dire need of mobility aids, adult diapers and financial support.
Morgam says they are working with disability service providers and are referring these affected individuals to the Department of Social Welfare for further support.
He adds during their response in Lomaiviti, they provided face-to-face trauma therapy including grief counselling to a single mother and her family.
Morgam says the single mother of 6 children lost her husband days before TC Yasa and was concerned about the livelihood of her family, as their Yaqona farm was destroyed.
He further says continuous support is being provided via tele-counselling services and they have also referred the case to the Department of Social Welfare for further socio-economic related assistance.
In its response to TC Yasa, Empower Pacific has provided psychological first aid and therapeutic counselling in Ra, Bua, Cakaudrove, Macuata, Lau, Lomaiviti and Yasawa.
2,185 people have received psychological first aid support.
146 of these people received therapeutic, trauma, grief and loss, stress management and child protection counselling.
Morgam says 335 people have benefitted from the provision of awareness sessions in Bua.
297 people living with a disability have also been engaged and provided with psychological first aid and psychosocial support.
Empower Pacific currently has 30 people on the ground in the Northern Division.
This includes 15 counsellors and social workers and 15 trained psychological first aid volunteers.
Morgam says they are ready to support the Education Ministry in providing much needed psychosocial support to students, teachers and their families.
He says they are awaiting the Education Ministry's directives.
A counselling support package for teachers and students in TC Yasa affected areas will be rolled out in the Northern Division after a meeting between the Education Ministry and heads of schools next week.
Minister for Education Rosy Akbar says they are working with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and UNICEF to provide the package for teachers who will be able to help with counselling students.
She says some teachers have already received training on providing psychosocial support.
You can call Empower Pacific’s 24-hour counselling helpline numbers on 7765 626 for Digicel users and 2937 141 for Vodafone users.
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