Report – Workshop on Trauma Relief Training towards Wayanad Tragedy conducted by Dr. Nacho Jarero and Ms. Nicolle
The 2024 Wayanad landslides were a series of landslides that occurred in 5 villages in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk in Wayanad district, Kerala, India in the early hours of 30 July 2024. The landslides were caused by heavy rains and the disaster was one of the deadliest in Kerala’s history, with reports of a large number of fatalities, injuries, and people missing. we came together to help the traumatized sufferer to recover from mass trauma and healing using group EMDR therapy protocols. Such activities involve partnerships with health and education departments, local leaders, community members, academicians, religious groups, orphans, hospitals and NGOs. Initially, soon after the interventions are focused to meet basic needs of the survivors. Immediate relief services by army, police, medical assistance and other rehabilitation begins at the earliest as emergency response. The challenge for EMDR Leaders is to identify an authentic entry point. However, members of EMDR Association, India got connected with the local volunteers from Kerala who are qualified EMDR practitioners and volunteers and had worked in the same area after the floods in 2018.
Thus, EMDR Association, India in collaboration with EMDR Asia organised a Virtual Workshop for Trauma Relief Training towards Wayanad Tragedy. This training workshop was conducted by Dr. Ignacio (Nacho) Jarero & Ms. Nicolle Mainthow with focus on Group and Individual Treatment Interventions for Trauma Relief using the Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization (ASSYST) procedures. The workshop was conducted on 11th & 13th September 2024. The workshop had an overwhelming participation of 100 EMDR therapists who were from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mauritius, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Abu Dhabi, UK, and Myanmar and was well appreciated.
Dr. Nacho has developed user friendly training manual and worksheets, which were shared in advance with the participants. These documents were also translated in the local languages where they could be used soon after the training. They are detailed and self-explanatory with clear instructions and the step-by-step process. The focus of the workshop was on the applicability of ASSYST PROTOCOLS towards the affected individuals in the region of Wayanad and any other locations with single trauma, potential of diagnosis of Acute Stress Disorder and within the duration of 3 months after the tragedy.
Participants were encouraged to use either with individual clients or in the groups and a brief follow up is planned a month later (13 October 2024) to address the difficulties and clinical questions raised by the participants indicating clarifications of using the ASSYST protocols. After this follow up meeting the certificate of attendance will be given to the participants who are actively practicing the method.
