Mental health of flood-affected people should be prioritized: Lawmaker Kauncha
Kathmandu Nepali Congress lawmaker Renuka Kauncha has urged the government to give priority to the mental health and psychosocial security of the flood-affected people around the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Friday, lawmaker Kauncha said that the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River on August 26 have damaged houses, roads and property and have severely affected the mental health of the affected people. She said that the mental condition of the employees working at the local level along with the people living in the flood-affected areas is also deteriorating. Kauncha cited the disappearance of engineer Suresh Sapkota of Rasuwa and the mental disturbance of teacher Ishwori Bhatta, who was working at the Upper Trishuli-1 project, as examples. She said that many victims are suffering from intense mental stress, anxiety, anxiety, depression and other psychosocial problems due to the loss of property, loss of house, relatives, displacement and uncertainty about the future. Kauncha said that post-disaster rehabilitation should not be limited to building physical infrastructure.
“Post-disaster recovery is not just about rebuilding broken houses and roads, but also about rebuilding broken hearts and hopes,” she said.
She urged the government to run mental health and psycho-social security programmes along with rescue and relief in flood-affected areas. He said that psychosocial support programmes should be launched immediately, especially targeting children, women, senior citizens and families who have lost their relatives. She also drew the attention of the government to bring a clear plan for rehabilitation and livelihood to remove the uncertainty of the future of the victims.
Yoga, meditation and community support programmes should be conducted as per the local need and culture.
“The floods have swept away people’s homes, but the government should not let their hopes go away,” Kauncha said.
She said that the government should give equal priority to mental health along with physical relief and provide the affected citizens with a safe future and confidence to survive.
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