Psychologist Raiza Khan has warned that the psychological toll of the MV Barima disaster will extend well beyond the search and rescue phase, with recovery for survivors, grieving families, first responders and affected communities likely to take months or years.
Khan said the trauma from a disaster of this scale reaches far beyond those who were on board.
“A tragedy is never just the 100 people on the boat, it’s their family, friends, onlookers,” she said, estimating that several hundred people could be directly affected once relatives and friends were included, with tens of thousands more in Georgetown exposed to secondary trauma through social media.
Recovery differs for each individual, prompting health professionals to focus initial assessments on a person’s present emotional and physical state rather than their history.
“I need to know how you are feeling, what is going through your brain? Are you having flashbacks? Are you having any PTSD symptoms, how are you eating, sleeping,” Khan said, adding that such assessments guide the recommendations given to those affected.
Unresolved trauma could also worsen physical health, particularly among people already predisposed to conditions such as hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
Fishermen among the first responders after the MV Barima capsized have reported difficulty sleeping and recurring memories of pulling survivors from the water.
Khan urged citizens to make use of state or private mental health services, noting some 73 deaths have been confirmed so far.
