CHUKAI: The Kemaman District Health Department mobilised three officers to provide counselling services to the victims and the families of the capsized boat incident in the waters of Kemaman here on Sunday (Aug 11).
Its health and medical officer, Dr Nadhirah Nazarudin, said her team acted immediately to give psychological services at the search operation centre at the Kemaman Maritime Zone Pangkalan Hadapan on the first day of the incident.
She said psychological assistance is essential to ensure the victims and their immediate families do not suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the tragedy.
"Apart from physical treatment, victims and their families also need psychological help or psychological first aid (PFA). This is to avoid prolonged trauma that can result in PTSD,” she said when interviewed at the Kemaman Maritime Zone Pangkalan Hadapan here on Tuesday (Aug 13).
"We are conducting several counselling sessions for the victims and their immediate families. They are in a calm state although they are still sad and in shock."
Dr Nadhirah also advised that the victims and their families be given space to come to terms with what has happened.
"We understand close friends and relatives want to express concern by calling and asking about them. However, such actions will sometimes add to the worries of victims and their families who are already burdened with grief," she added.
