Feature

Seminar on
Climate Change and Mental Health

Tasneem Kashem

A half-day seminar on 'Climate Change and Mental Health' was held on Thursday, 10th June 2010. The event was organised by the Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka. It was held in the seminar room of Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka. The Chief Guest was Dr. A A M S Arefin Siddque, Vice-Chancellor of University of Dhaka. The Special Guest was Dr. Atiq Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. The Chairperson was Dr. Shamim F. Karim, Professor and Chairman of Dept. of Psychology, DU. The inaugural speech was given by Dr. Mainul Islam Sharif. The keynote speech was delivered by Syed Tanveer Rahman on behalf of Dr. Nasreen Wadud, Professor of Dept. of Psychology, DU.

A group of researchers presented their papers on the different psychological aspects of 'Aila' victims. Aila, a devastating cyclone induced a storm surge of 3m (10ft) and destroyed 64 upazillas in the south-western coast of Bangladesh on May 25, 2009. After nine months of the cyclone, the group of young researchers went to Satkhira, the most Aila affected district of the country and analysed some important information about the victims.

Kazi Nur Hossain Mukul, a Master's student of Psychology, DU, presented his paper on 'Diversified Effects of Aila on Way of Life'. He noted heightened levels of anxiety among the victims about the uncertainty of their livelihood and future. Sleep disturbances and painful memories of Aila have made their life stressful. Furthermore, at present the victims are living with low motivation, low self-confidence, lack of courage and are totally devastated. In fact, familial, social, cultural and occupational life has totally changed than it was before they had been affected.

Md. Salim Hossain, Lecturer of United International University (UIU), presented a paper on 'Depression among the Aila Victims of Satkhira, Bangladesh'. Although there were enough relief and social/peer support given after the cyclone, he found that around 45% of the Aila victims are still suffering from major depression at an alarming rate even after 9 months of the incident, whereas, the general rate of depression is only 3% among the people of Bangladesh.

Asheek Mohammad Shimul, Lecturer of Psychology, DU, presented his paper on 'Anxiety: A Day-to-day Phenomena for Aila Victims'. He explained that the people of the mild, moderate and severely affected areas are prone to physical damage due to high anxiety.

Akib-ul-Haque, Lecturer of Psychology, DU, presented his paper on 'Irrational Beliefs: A Potential Exacerbating Factor for Climate Change Victims' Sufferings'. He exemplified that there has been a considerable number of irrational beliefs about life among the people of the Aila affected regions. They have the tendency to become completely hopeless and dysfunctional if they continue to live in these ways. Psychological help along with physical support are highly needed in these Aila affected areas.

Syed Tanveer Rahman, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychology, DU, presented a paper on 'Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the Climate Change Victims Nine Months after the Cyclone Aila in Satkhira, Bangladesh: An Exploratory Research'. He found that 27.1% of the people reported severe symptoms of chronic type of PTSD and this severity increased along with increased amount of damage done by Aila on the lives of the people. Psychological intervention and social/peer support were highly recommended in those areas even after nine months of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Papers presented in the seminar revealed some important aspects of the effects that a trauma or a disaster can cause on the people's lives. Now a days, these kinds of climate change are frequently seen to occur in Bangladesh. Therefore, to relieve people from stress, anxiety, depression, irrational beliefs and posttraumatic stress disorder, it is necessary to keep on providing the victims with psychological intervention or peer/social support from time to time for their peaceful future.

(The writer is a student of Department of Psychology) University of Dhaka)
Photo: Rakibul Hasan Mahin