August 24, 2021 – Steeve Verdieu was at work in his bedroom when the tremors started on the morning of August 14. He jumped under his desk and held on when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake ripped through his childhood home in southern Haiti.
Verdieu, 25, says he could only have thought of 2010 when a powerful earthquake struck the country and killed more than 200,000 people.
“Most of these adults in their mid-20s and 30s have vivid memories,” said John Fitts, associate director of Sent To Serve. After the 2010 earthquake, he started working in the non-profit sector in Haiti.
“I can’t even do anything with it,” says Fitts. “If you haven’t lived through it, you can’t do anything with it.”
Verdieu showed up to find his family alive and his home in ruins.
“We only have one child in the neighborhood who died on the day of the earthquake, but everyone is feeling mentally bad,” he says. “We are also really frustrated at the moment because it tends to rain and everyone is outside right now. So we’re a little scared. “
Verdieu says his community has neither seen nor heard of government agencies coming to offer advice on what to do next.
So he started posting photos and videos on his Twitter account for help.
Survive to heal
Many Haitians are forced to turn the page quickly after major crises, says Fitts.
“Survival outweighs emotional shock,” he says. “You won’t have time. You will not be thinking about emotional wellbeing at this point. It is not addressed because they do not have the opportunity to address it. So it will be buried. “
Other rural areas in Haiti were hardest hit by the recent earthquake, which killed over 2,000 people.
Many people remained homeless and had limited access to food, safe drinking water and medical help for the seriously injured.
But current problems in Haiti, like the shaky leadership following the country’s recent assassination, left many people unsure of what to do next.
In the absence of information, many like Verdieu used social media or tried to call family and friends to find help themselves.
Access to basic necessities like food and water reduces emotional trauma after such disasters, according to Betty Jean, a licensed professional advisor and global advisor on mental health and trauma.
“When there is a crisis like an earthquake, the most important thing people need is a sense of security and that there are entities that care about their general welfare,” says Jean, who is a Haitian. “The emotional and mental support that we have to offer people starts with addressing these primary needs.”
But that is not always possible in Haiti, mainly because of the poor infrastructure, says Caleb Lucien, founder of Hosean International Ministries.
“For example, the earthquake happened in southern Haiti,” says Lucien, who is a Haitian. “There was some gang violence blocking the passage of Port-au-Prince [the capital] to the south. Because of the gang fighting, it was difficult to take the risk of traveling by road. So planes from the capital tried to get supplies there. “
More than tough
Haitians are usually praised for their inner strength in order to move forward in crises. But it’s important to understand that there is often grief behind their resilience, Jean said.
“Sometimes I struggle with that word,” she says. “When I say resilient, I mean they will survive. But we are talking about a traumatized people. I definitely believe the people of Haiti are a people with PTSD. The Haitian people have not yet fully recovered from the first earthquake. I don’t think it was time. And many Haitians are suffering in silence right now. “
The trauma shows up in a number of ways, says Wilford Marous, entrepreneur and founder of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in the UK.
“I was traveling around Europe with some colleagues to attend some conferences and one of them, a Haitian, refused to sleep in a building because he thought it was too high,” he says. “He still had this fear of the earthquake.”
Children are often the hardest hit, says Fitts.
“They don’t know what to do with it,” he says. “Their parents aren’t necessarily there to give them the emotional support they need because they are only trying to survive when this happens. So many things are not addressed and they are taught to move on early on. “
Hosean International Ministries evacuated 1,500 people, including 750 children, after the 2010 earthquake. The group stayed at the charity campground, and the children were given the opportunity to continue their education through the school system.
“Children had problems sleeping,” says Lucien. “They are struggling with the loss of loved ones. Some of them lost their mothers. Some lost their brothers and sisters. So we had to work with them and try to get them through this process. “
The charity offered counseling sessions to children and their parents to help mitigate the emotional impact after the earthquake.
Frequent trauma reactions
Keep in mind, however, that symptoms such as depression and insomnia are common in most people going through mental crises such as major natural disasters or wars, says Guglielmo Schininà, director of mental health and psychosocial support at the International Organization for Migration.
“It is important not to jump to conclusions when diagnosing mental illnesses or disorders,” says Schininà. “Suffering exists and suffering is not a mental disorder and should not be treated as such. In other situations, psychological effects like these can be symptoms of a mental disorder. But in this situation these are just normal reactions. “
In addition to trauma from natural disasters, Jean says many Haitians are angry about the chaos in the country given the many resources that have been brought to Haiti over the past decade.
“We should have had better infrastructure, better roads, traffic lights, emergency plans, trauma hospitals,” she says. “The resources were there”
The constant lack of security within the country can have dire consequences, she says.
“Much of the political instability, rebels, gang activity, and wars within politics stem from the opposition’s view that those in power haven’t done a very good job of upgrading the Haitian lifestyle,” says Jean.
Unity and public togetherness are crucial in times like these, says Marous. He suggests finding creative ways to encourage widespread healing.
“Even if it tries to initiate a healing process through the media,” he says. “To let someone speak to the population for an hour in the morning, even on television. That could be a possibility of offering some kind of help to the population as a whole. “
Strategic reconstruction
Haitians around the world are banding together to keep spirits high while helping with the rebuilding effort, says Jean.
“We have to stand up for the morale of young people,” she says. “You are tired. You are hungry. You want to be looked after. So our role in the diaspora is really crucial in helping Haitians get out of this very traumatic time.”
Hosean International Ministries organizes and sends relief supplies to the parts of Haiti hardest hit by the earthquake. The ministry is also helping rebuild some of the homes destroyed by the earthquake.
It’s important to keep the lessons of previous recovery efforts in mind, Lucien says.
“We have to work with local executives and ask them exactly what they need,” he says. “The tendency is to hurry up and say what you will bring with you. People brought things with them in 2010 that were not needed. Find local people and work with them to provide assistance. “
“My challenge to the international community is how we can stand by this resilient nation to take some pressure off,” says Jean. “But whether the aid comes or not, I believe the Haitian people will rise day by day until we rebuild and rebuild.”
This certainly applies to Verdieu.
He has already started an online campaign to rebuild his home.
WebMD health news
sources
The New York Times: “‘We’re on our own’: Many earthquake survivors do not expect help from Haitian officials.”
Steve Verdieu.
John Fitts, assistant director, Sent To Serve.
Betty Jean, Licensed Professional Counselor, Global Mental Health Trauma Consultant.
Caleb Lucien, founder of Hosean International Ministries.
Wilford Marous, entrepreneur; Founder, Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain.
Guglielmo Schininà, Head of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, International Organization for Migration.
Hosean International Ministries.
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