Children undergoing art therapy at Putra Heights Mosque under the supervision of One-Stop Social Support Centre counsellors. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
AMONG the Putra Heights gas pipeline blast victims, youths between the ages of 15 and 20 as well as younger children are the most impacted by the incident, says a professional counsellor.
Malaysia Family Foundation (YKM) counsellor Nooramra Mohamed Yatim said the young ones had been excited ahead of the Hari Raya celebration but the explosion had changed that view.
“As part of our intervention for young children, we ask them to draw and (from their drawings) we identify their trauma.”
She said the older teenagers and other youths were given counselling, either one-to-one or in groups.
Citing the case of a young adult with two family members who were in hospital for surgery after sustaining severe burns, she said the young adult was given counselling and the victims were provided basic daily items.
Some 235 people had received counselling at the mobile unit of the One-Stop Social Support Centre (PSSS), currently located at Putra Heights Mosque.
Nooramra said the majority of victims were suffering from extreme worry, overthinking, anxiety and panic attacks.
“For some victims, they get panic attacks from thinking about their future and have breathing difficulties.
“We help them by teaching them breathing techniques.”
She said some of the survivors became fearful when they heard thunder.
“When they hear thunder, they think it is another explosion,” she added.
Nooramra said that on the first day after the incident, a number of adults and the older youths among the victims were worried about their personal safety.
“Subsequently, they (the homeowners and heads of households) began to worry about how they were going to survive after assessing the damage to their homes and vehicles.”
She said some of the victims were also uncomfortable with having so many people around them.
“This is because when they ran out during the fire, they were all in a big group.
“So, it reminds them of the incident,” she explained.
The counsellors are at the relief centre around the clock, enabling the fire victims to access their services at any time of the day.
Nooramra said there were also people who sought counselling after being indirectly affected by the explosion.
