Battling PTSD: Psychological trauma centres to be set up
First centre to be set up at King Edward Medical University.
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has decided to set up psychological trauma centres in the province, MNA Marvi Memon said on Monday.
Memon, who is the coordinator of the Prime Minister’s National Psycho-Social Advisory Council, said the first such centre would be established at the King Edward Medical University. “A summary in this regard has been sent to the Health secretary for approval,” she said, while chairing a meeting of the Health Department at the Civil Secretariat.
“The centres are being established for the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of natural disasters, accidents and terrorism,” she said.
Memon said that another summary had also been sent to the Punjab government for formation of the Provincial Psycho-Social Advisory Committee.
According to the summary, the additional chief secretary will be the head of the committee and the health secretary its convener. Officials of the Higher Education Department, Social Welfare Department, Rescue 1122, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) will be its members. The summary will soon be sent to chief minister.
“After the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, the need was felt at national level to establish such institutions for the rehabilitation of victims of such incidents. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif immediately directed the authorities to establish the National Psycho-Social Advisory Council. Three senior experts from each province have been included in the council,” she said. She said that the children targetted in terrorist attacks underwent mental and psychological trauma as did their parents. “The establishment of the centres will greatly help in dealing with the mental and psychological health of people affected by terrorism,” she said.
The meeting also decided to consult the Health, Information, Home and Higher Education and School Education Departments, the PDMA, medical colleges and universities, and institutions for preparing guidelines for social mobilisation and awareness campaigns.
The participants decided that the Provincial Mental Health Act 2001 should be reviewed further for legislation. Additional Chief Secretary Mubashar Raza and Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik said that the Punjab government would extend full cooperation for establishing the centers in the province.
Information and Culture Secretary Momin Agha, Higher Education Department Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Schools Department Secretary Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and Special Home Secretary Dr Shoaib Akbar attended the meeting. Psychiatrists from King Edward Medical University and others medical colleges including Professor Aftab Asif, Dr Rabia Farhan, Dr Shahid Hashmi, Rimsha Rafique, Dr Ali Hashmi, Dr Aftab Qadir Khan, Dr Nazish Imran, Dr Farasat Ali Dogar were also present.
Can-med Healthcare Medical Director Dr Naveed Shah appreciated the government’s decision to establish the centres.
“Tailor-made physiological treatment is very important for the survivors of the army school incident for their normal mental growth. It is like a fractured bone, which if not treated appropriately, becomes a permanent deformity. Such children also need physiologists at the earliest before trauma ingrains its effects in their minds,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2014.
The Punjab government has decided to set up psychological trauma centres in the province, MNA Marvi Memon said on Monday.
Memon, who is the coordinator of the Prime Minister’s National Psycho-Social Advisory Council, said the first such centre would be established at the King Edward Medical University. “A summary in this regard has been sent to the Health secretary for approval,” she said, while chairing a meeting of the Health Department at the Civil Secretariat.
“The centres are being established for the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of natural disasters, accidents and terrorism,” she said.
Memon said that another summary had also been sent to the Punjab government for formation of the Provincial Psycho-Social Advisory Committee.
According to the summary, the additional chief secretary will be the head of the committee and the health secretary its convener. Officials of the Higher Education Department, Social Welfare Department, Rescue 1122, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) will be its members. The summary will soon be sent to chief minister.
“After the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, the need was felt at national level to establish such institutions for the rehabilitation of victims of such incidents. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif immediately directed the authorities to establish the National Psycho-Social Advisory Council. Three senior experts from each province have been included in the council,” she said. She said that the children targetted in terrorist attacks underwent mental and psychological trauma as did their parents. “The establishment of the centres will greatly help in dealing with the mental and psychological health of people affected by terrorism,” she said.
The meeting also decided to consult the Health, Information, Home and Higher Education and School Education Departments, the PDMA, medical colleges and universities, and institutions for preparing guidelines for social mobilisation and awareness campaigns.
The participants decided that the Provincial Mental Health Act 2001 should be reviewed further for legislation. Additional Chief Secretary Mubashar Raza and Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik said that the Punjab government would extend full cooperation for establishing the centers in the province.
Information and Culture Secretary Momin Agha, Higher Education Department Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Schools Department Secretary Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and Special Home Secretary Dr Shoaib Akbar attended the meeting. Psychiatrists from King Edward Medical University and others medical colleges including Professor Aftab Asif, Dr Rabia Farhan, Dr Shahid Hashmi, Rimsha Rafique, Dr Ali Hashmi, Dr Aftab Qadir Khan, Dr Nazish Imran, Dr Farasat Ali Dogar were also present.
Can-med Healthcare Medical Director Dr Naveed Shah appreciated the government’s decision to establish the centres.
“Tailor-made physiological treatment is very important for the survivors of the army school incident for their normal mental growth. It is like a fractured bone, which if not treated appropriately, becomes a permanent deformity. Such children also need physiologists at the earliest before trauma ingrains its effects in their minds,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2014.