The psychotherapeutic and psychiatric condition of the Nahr el Bared Camp IDP's who sought refuge in Beddawi seems quite serious.
The family Guidance Centre the only mental health facility within the camp has received from Friday the 25th of May till Monday 28th of May eleven cases requiring psychiatric interventions and medication and 95 cases requiring psychotherapy - due to the big number, persons with similar conditions were treated utilizing group therapy techniques.
The majority of persons are facing extreme anxiety, fear, depression, traumatic shock, nightmares, enuresis, extreme sadness, and loss of appetite.
All the above diagnosis can result from enduring a life threatening experience – these persons had to suffer from the fighting within their camp add to that the terrible conditions in which they had to flee it (leaving family members behind, danger on the road, add to that the threat of being stopped and arrested if they are outside the camp since the majority had to leave without personal documents). Add to that the conditions of extreme crowdedness and dependence that they are living in Beddawi.
It has to be kept in mind that the Palestinian population living in Lebanon suffered from continuous aggressive events since 1948 and the fleeing from Palestine.
Hence a comprehensive approach is being devised to provide support, through the intervention of more psychologists in addition to strengthening psycho-social activities for children since now most of the activities are recreational which is very important yet more comprehensive mediations should be implemented. In addition mechanisms should be set to provide a supportive environment to adults and volunteers helping in the camp.
Consequently, a team of psychologists and animators is being created with the aim of alleviating some of the plight of the Nahr el Bared population.
Prevalent Diagnosis:
Diagnosis
|
No. of cases
|
Medication needed
|
Depression |
10
|
yes |
Cognitive delay |
1
|
yes |
Schizophrenia |
2
|
yes |
Severe anxiety |
20
|
|
Fear |
21
|
|
Severe irritability |
8
|
|
Traumatic shock |
17
|
|
Nightmares |
8
|
|
Enuresis |
1
|
|
Epilepsy |
1
|
|
Extreme sadness |
1
|
|
Lack of appetite |
1
|
|
Phobia |
4
|