Legacy Matters
Sometimes great pain can be transformed into a great legacy. Ani Kalayjian was inspired to become a traumatologist after her personal experience recovering from long-term effects of genocide in Armenia.
A psychology professor at Fordham University, Kalayjian spearheaded the Mental Health Outreach Project that has provided mental health support after disasters in Armenia, Turkey and Japan and now in Sri Lanka.
Our initial seven-member team coordinated with UNITED SIKHS, a worldwide humanitarian organization, to set up a unique ongoing mental health program, working with Ananda Galappatti, the local psychosocial authority, and local psychosocial groups to deliver services and identify local people who can be trained to offer emotional support to those affected by the disaster.
While tradition here holds that people do not talk about their feelings, when given a chance to share their terrifying experiences, emotions poured out.
“Emotional release is important in every culture to purge intense sadness and fears in order to prevent long-term suffering,” says Kalayjian.
You can read more about Finding Life in a Living Hell here
Posted by Jill Fallon at February 22, 2005 9:32 PM | Permalink