Psycho-trauma centres to be developed at national level

The Peshawar school attack has pushed the government to establish psycho-trauma centres for victims of natural disasters, accidents, and terrorist attacks, Pakistan Today has learnt.

The move was announced in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister’s National Psycho-Social Advisory Council coordinator Marvi Memon at the Health Department on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, Memon revealed that in the aftermath of the terrorist activity in Army Public School Peshawar, the need for such a solution was felt at the national level. It is imperative for Pakistan to establish such institutions for the rehabilitation of the victims of such incidents.

She said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had immediately ordered the establishment of the National Psycho-Social Advisory Council. She said that the children, parents, and other victims of these unfortunate incidents go through mental and psychological trauma and its affects last for a long time.

Stressing need for such centres at provincial level, she said that helping affected persons recover from mental and psychological shocks and solving their psychosocial problems is the need of the hour.

It was decided that the provincial Psycho-Social Advisory Committee be established immediately. Memon said that three senior experts from each province have been included in the National Advisory Council.

The meeting decided to take on board the Health Department, Information Department, Home Department, PDMA, medical colleges, universities, higher education, school education and other institutions for preparing guidelines, social mobilisation, awareness campaigns and other activities. This was done so that a comprehensive and consolidated strategy could be prepared before the action plan was implemented. It was also decided that the Provincial Mental Health Act 2001 should be reviewed further for legislation.

Additionally, Chief Secretary Mubashar Raza and secretary health provided assurances on behalf of the Punjab government that all-out cooperation would be extended so that psycho-trauma centres could be established in the province.