Media Advisory: American Red Cross Aids Earthquake Survivors with Psychosocial Support

Delegates deployed to the region to help individuals cope with emotional trauma

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, May 31, 2006 — The American Red Cross has deployed a psychosocial support team to assist Indonesia earthquake survivors in overcoming the emotional trauma they have endured. Similar to disaster mental health services, psychosocial support activities encourage people—especially children and young adults—to express their feelings of loss and suffering in order to cope with the devastation they experienced.

"After a large disaster, like an earthquake, many people lose everything — they lose their homes, loved ones and their very sense of well-being," said Carol Miller, spokesperson for international services for the American Red Cross. "By expressing themselves, people are able talk about their feelings and they can begin to confront the emotions that they are experiencing. This is one of the first steps in the recovery process.

"As a pioneer in the field of psychosocial support, the American Red Cross has drawn on the disaster mental health model that is carried out following disasters in the United States. The American Red Cross conducted these programs in Asia after the Gujarat earthquake in 2000 and following the 2004 tsunami. As a result, many psychosocial support experts from the American Red Cross are familiar with the culture in Asia and are able to adjust activities to meet people’s needs. These activities include: singing, grieving, burial rituals and other traditional forms of self-expression.

In addition to sending psychosocial support experts to the affected area, the American Red Cross has deployed relief experts from the United States to support disaster and need assessments, coordination and other relief functions.

Through these efforts, the American Red Cross is helping survivors and their communities, as they begin to recover from the devastation over the days and weeks ahead.

WHO: Psychosocial support representatives helping survivors in the earthquake affected region of Indonesia near Yogyakarta/Klaten. CONTACT: Carol Miller, Press Officer in Washington, DC (202) 303-6820; millerca@usa.redcross.org WHEN: Beginning Wednesday, May 31, 2006 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For updates on the American Red Cross response to the Indonesia earthquake, visit www.redcross.org.

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year, crises like the Myanmar Cyclone and China Earthquake, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation by either contacting 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish), or mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.