Educators to be counselled on strategies for addressing hurricane trauma

In recognising how deeply traumatised many Jamaicans have been as a result of the ravages of Hurricane Melissa, the Pamella’s Sunrise Foundation, in collaboration with the Guidance Counselling Unit of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and the Jamaica Poets Nomadic College and School Tour, will be presenting psychotherapeutic and trauma-informed interventions to educators next Monday.

Pamella’s Sunrise, a not-for-profit International Christian Healing Ministry, born out of an ever-increasing need for emotional and mental healing from gun crimes and concerned for the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children, decided to postpone the ‘Make the Children Laugh’ event scheduled for December.

The event, one aimed at steering children away from emotional pain, was to mark the foundation’s one-year anniversary.

The decision was taken, however, to pivot efforts to hurricane recovery and restoration – maintaining the mission of bringing hope, healing, mentoring, and spiritual care to those in need.

Both sessions to educators will be held by Zoom at 5 p.m.

According to Dr Marjorie McWilliams, director of counselling services at Pamella’s Sunrise, based in California, United States, participants in the Monday and for the upcoming session will receive guidance and support focused on mental-health awareness and coping strategies.

“We will examine what constitutes a normal or natural reaction to the trauma associated with a devastating event such as a hurricane,” McWilliams said.

The programme, Restoring Hope with Pamella’s Sunrise, addresses the psychological needs of the educators who will be expected to meet the same needs for their students and efforts like this aim to bridge the gap through education, early intervention, and practical support, ensuring that those affected by trauma receive the help they need.

The foundation acknowledged that without timely intervention and healing, trauma could have a lasting effect.

Assistance will also be provided to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, and a mission’s team will be organised to travel to Jamaica with much-needed supplies.

As part of an ongoing initiative, however, once connectivity is restored, the foundation plans to provide online trauma relief support for counsellors, peer leaders, community leaders, and families.