In 2004, the civilized world was
disgusted by the terrorist attack
on a school in Beslan, Russia, resulting
in the deaths of 186 children. While
this tragedy quickly turned into
yesterday's
news, the people of Beslan are still
suffering from psychological trauma
today.
To help community members cope with the violence and terrible losses brought about by the event, psychological rehabilitation centers were set up in the local clinic and kindergarten by the Moscow based Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists (ACPP). Fortunately, over 400 children have sought care and, through therapy, most have learned to talk about the tragedy in a constructive way and can think about the future in a positive light. Still, some youngsters exhibit emotional instability and exhaustion stemming from posttraumatic stress disorder.
Many adults feel a sense of guilt and don't seem willing to accept psychological help for themselves. This has a negative impact on children, who often assimilate the fears and anxieties of their parents. Those who lost a husband or wife are most vulnerable, overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising children alone in a town permeated with sadness. Men in particular view therapy as an affront to their masculinity.
Dr. Elena Morozova of ACPP emphasizes the need for family therapy to help the adults reconnect with their children and repair bonds of trust. The rehabilitation center therefore organized overnight trips for struggling families in nearby mountain resorts. Enjoying the serenity, taking part in physical activity in a beautiful locale, and participating in therapy with the children produced wonderful results. The parents seemed to have a new outlook on life and generated new memories with their children. They also seemed more willing to avail themselves of the psychological services offered at home.
As a result of these successful outings, there are now plans to establish a permanent respite camp for families. Thus, the people of Beslan will have expanded opportunity to extract themselves from their environment and work on their problems in a fresh atmosphere at any time during the year.
Many individuals and organizations were moved to offer donations to help the victims of this heinous crime, including RCWS and its generous supporters. The approximately $50,000 raised by the Society has covered the cost of operations and medical treatment for children hurt during the terrorist siege, many of whom needed to undergo bomb fragment extractions. RCWS was collaborating with Dr. Leonid Roshal, the eminent physician at the Children's Hospital of Special Surgery and Traumotology in Moscow who supervised the rescue and evacuation of the desperately wounded children and parents. RCWS awarded several grants to Dr. Roshal's hospital toward purchasing crucial medical equipment and supplies for the treatment of some of the surviving children. RCWS funds also paid for the family trips described above.
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or call 212-473-6263
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