Mental health problems and self-healing of tsunami survivors: case study of Lambom and Namkem villages

บทคัดย่อ

Objective This study aimed to describe mental health problems, self-healing and factors enhancing self-healing of tsunami survivors in Lambom and Namkem Villages.

Materials and methods This was a qualitative study. The data were collected using focus group discussions with members of House Construction Group (n = 8) and Lay Protection Volunteers Group (n = 9), and in-depth interviews with villagers (n = 21). The informants were tsunami survivors living in Lambom and Namkem Villages, Pung-Nga Province. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis according to Polit & Hunger.

Results Mental health problems comprised stress and worry, fear, insomnia, and loneliness. Strategies used to heal themselves consisted of 5 aspects, firstly a group healing process: House Construction Group and Lay Protection Volunteers Group, secondly self adaptation to live with risks and fears: rumor management, thirdly using time to heal self, fourthly avoiding to talk about the loss and trying to forget painful past events, and lastly development of psychological strength. Factors influencing self-healing were 1) having new children or grand children, 2) having new wife or husband, and 3) having sufficient social support during the critical period.

Conclusion The informants adopted group process, self adaptation and development of psychological strength to heal themselves and neglected to confront the problems and the use of mental health services. They believed that the time and the avoidance of talking about painful past events could heal mental health problems. Strategies should be used to integrate mental health activities to the services to be congruent with community health resources, beliefs and cultures.