February 9, 2011

In the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010, people lost homes, possessions, family members, friends, and livelihoods. The work is slowly moving ahead to replace what can be rebuilt and to mourn what is gone forever. For many, however, there is little help in managing the emotional and psychological stress caused by the traumatic events.

Fritzner Benoît*, a thirty-four year old father of two, lost his home in the earthquake. Reeling from the death of friends and relatives, he and his family moved to a settlement in Petit Goave, a town of 30,000 near the epicenter of the quake. Within a week, the debilitating psychological effects of the catastrophe began to take their toll. Suffering from insomnia and nervous tension, he began to talk at length by himself, even as he refused to speak with others. He seemed obsessed: talking repeatedly about the earthquake and the death of a close friend, even though his partner, Marie*, could not engage him in conversation. Prior to the earthquake, he planted crops and worked as a mason. But in the spring, while those around him began to return to work, Fritzner stayed at home. He became physically and verbally abusive with Marie and their young daughter.

Marie brought him to see Heartland Alliance social workers, who were providing counseling at the camp. This program uses lessons learned from our work on trauma in the U.S. to serve local families and individuals in Petit Goave. The psychologist found Fritzner reticent and uninterested, but after inviting the couple to speak more privately, Fritzner gradually opened up. During their next meeting, the psychologist noticed that Fritzner made eye contact when he spoke; Marie said he had started to sleep more and talk less by himself. These encouraging signs continued at their third meeting. Fritzner spoke freely of the difficulties he faced with his family and of his frustrations at not being able to provide for them. 

For the first time, he described the physical problems that afflicted him since the earthquake—headaches, lethargy, vertigo, and weakness in his legs. In speaking with the Heartland Alliance psychologist, Fritzner found a concrete explanation for these symptoms, which had previously gone unexplained and untreated, With additional sessions planned, Fritzner seems likely to continue on the positive trajectory he has found through treatment, and gradually regain the life that he lost after the earthquake. The program in Petit Goave offers presentations and group discussions at schools, churches, and in camps about normal reactions to the natural disaster and positive coping ideas, as well as individual and group therapy and training for local leaders in recognizing symptoms of psychological distress. All of the work is done by local staff who have been trained by Heartland Alliance.

“We realized early that to be effective, we should have people from the community and the surrounding area working with individuals who have been displaced,” says Michael Passarelli, one of Heartland Alliance’s managers in Haiti.

“The program has resulted in a great relationship with the community and our ability to reach several thousand people,” says Passarelli. “I keep hearing that it’s had a great impact, and that nobody has ever offered services like this here before.”

Subscribe to RSS