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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [HEALTH]

3 clusters · 9 sources · 14 days · First seen · Last updated

Mental health response to Venezuela earthquake

Overview

Following a June earthquake in Venezuela that resulted in over 6,000 deaths, humanitarian efforts have increasingly focused on addressing psychological trauma and mental health needs.

Initially, the Colegio de Psicólogos del estado Bolívar implemented a contingency plan to offer free emotional support through remote channels, including a dedicated website, telephone assistance, and WhatsApp. These efforts targeted individuals experiencing anxiety, sleep disturbances, and hyperactivation to assist with collective grief and trauma management.

As the response evolved, specialized international volunteerism emerged to address a critical shortage of trauma specialists in Venezuela. Psychologist Esly Carvalho, based in Brasília, implemented a program utilizing EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. This initiative has provided online training to more than 100 local professionals, who have treated over 500 individuals, helping to mitigate the psychological distress caused by the disaster.

Expanding the scope of field operations, María Casado, an emergency psychologist and psychosocial operations technician for Fundación Samur, provided details on the challenges of direct aid. Following a mission in early July, Casado described the destruction in areas like La Guaira, where high-rise buildings collapsed. She noted that multidisciplinary teams must focus on assessing needs, conducting searches, and providing sanitary support, while placing a specific emphasis on the well-being of rescue professionals. Casado highlighted that effective intervention requires rapid integration into local coordination to manage volatile resources and shifting needs.

Entities

Venezuela · Nancy Merchán · Esly Carvalho · María Casado · La Guaira

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Fundación Samur psychologist details earthquake relief in Venezuela

    Emergency psychologist María Casado describes the intense humanitarian response and psychosocial challenges faced by Fundación Samur teams following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

  2. 14 days ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Esly Carvalho provides mental health aid to Venezuela earthquake victims

    Psychologist Esly Carvalho is providing remote mental health support and training to trauma specialists in Venezuela following a devastating earthquake that killed over 6,000 people.

  3. 24 days ago

    [HEALTH] 4 sources
    Psychological support prioritized during humanitarian crises

    Following earthquakes in Venezuela, the Colegio de Psicólogos del estado Bolívar has launched free remote psychological support via phone and web to assist victims with anxiety and trauma.

Sources

98fmnatal.com.br · diariodealmeria.es · diariodecadiz.es · diariodesevilla.es · europasur.es · huelvainformacion.es · ouricuriemfoco.com.br · saude.ig.com.br · tconline.com.br

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history