Mental Health programs for earthquake survivors 6 April 2001 by Karla Morizzo in San Salvador Loss of a loved one is probably the most emotionally detrimental misfortune for any person. Specially when it is caused by an unpredictable natural disaster. The two recent earthquakes in El Salvador only a month apart from each other, caused many deaths and destructions, but it is the survivors, we must think about now. They were part of a family and a community, and in a matter of minutes their whole lives changed drastically. They are now faced with dangers, physical injuries, material losses and the loss of loved family members.
Earthquakes are special kinds of natural disasters.
They come and go as fast as a midsummer unexpectable rain, but leave long-term shattered emotions. When nature shows us that it cannot be controlled nor tamed, we are left with the uncertainty of the term security. The survivors did not only find themselves lost as a result of the earthquakes, but have been constantly reminded of the eminent dangers by continuous tremors in varying intensities for the last three months. As a result, the Salvadoran Red Cross, with support from the Federation and the American, French and Italian Red Cross Societies, has concentrated its efforts in alleviating the mental health of the affected population in the country. The Mental Health Program which brings psycho-social support to the vulnerable survivors of the tragedy, covers six departments of the country.