The President, Psychological Association of Nigeria, Prof. Andrew Zamani, on Monday called on Federal Government to intervene in providing psycho-trauma healing for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
Zamani made the call at the opening ceremony of ‘Basic Course in Psycho-Trauma Healing’, organised by Lux Terra Foundation, in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria lacks the needed data for persons living with mental health.
“People who are traumatised get into full blown mental illness, as well as substance abuse, and harbour unforgiveness that eventually recycles itself as violence.
“We do not have the full picture of how many people are traumatised in Nigeria because those who have the vested responsibility of making provisions for research to be conducted, are not competent.
`Documentation is needed in order to have index cases of traumatised people, either from IDP camps or even from the terrorists,’’ he said.
Zamani therefore advised government to bring professional associations like the Psychological Association of Nigeria, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria and Universities together, to conduct studies.
The Executive Director, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Rev.Fr. George Ehusani, said trauma was an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster.
“If government delivers clothing, shelter, food for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), for instance, and the people are still hurting so badly, they can become aggressive.
“The traumatised can transfer trauma on others if they are not properly taken care of emotionally,’’ Ehusani said.
According to him, emotional and psychological trauma are the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter one’s sense of security and makes him helpless.
He said the training was designed for individuals who work with IDPs, National and State Emergency Management Agencies, State Ministries of Social Welfare and Health.
Ehusani said others include Police, Road Safety staff, Religious and Community leaders in areas affected by insurgency, victims of conflicts, inter-ethnic or inter religious conflict and natural causes. (NAN)