Not just those at the centre of the (unfortunate) events, even millions of others watching from the sidelines may need support to overcome the unfolding trauma.
With the series of unfortunate events that have unfolded in Ukraine – Russian invasion military law, missile attacks, death. Ukraine citizens being asked to pick guns to defend the country, citizens and residents going in bomb shelters, families including children and also international students being rushed out or returned to their countries.
Resulting in these things – damage to commercial property, homes and shelters and cries for humanity and ceasefire, anti-war protests, humanitarian initiatives.
A lot has happened within a very short timeframe!
And while the medical and military efforts to rescue the people and political efforts at discussing ways to de-escalate the situation go on, there is the lesser focused aspect about the extent of fear, anxiety and trauma that has been induced across the world.
Adverse impact is being experienced by not just the people who are at the centre of the (unfortunate) events, but also people who seem to be on the sidelines –
- those from across the world who are watching with horror as events unfold
- those who have direct families or friends stuck in the middle of all this
- those who have indirect connections through friendships, trade or cultural relations
A recent video on Facebook taken on Delhi’s IGI airport showed students (being brought back from Ukraine) departing the airport with a Central government minister welcoming them with folded hands. Most students were just passing by without greeting the minister.
A series of comments underneath called these students as “shameless”, ” callous” calling out their poor, self-centered attitude in ignoring an elderly minister, responsible for their safe evacuation and return to the country.
What these commentators seem to miss out is the real face of adversity that these students have just escaped. Sitting in bunkers or being shuttled around as bombs blast, shells fly around them.
Unable to contact family or friends, leaving all possessions (escaping with a bag + passport + some money), uncertain about their lives, uncertain about their education and future, suffering high levels of physical and emotional insecurities!
These students may have just survived possibly the biggest adversity of their life – something millions of us have never ever faced in our lifetime. And now with passage of time, their lives may improve but will never be the same. We need to acknowledge this before judging these students; We also need to be sensitive to the fact that these students and their families may have been deeply traumatized, may need specialized support, care and a recovery journey before normal behaviours may be expected from them.
Similarly, millions of people across the world who may not have been survivors themselves but traumatized nevertheless, would need support and care.
Events like these (wars) tend to sow the seeds for “intergenerational trauma” where the trauma not just continues to affect the lives of people who were there and got directly impacted by adversity but passes on to their future generations as well. More trauma would inadvertently mean more challenges for a larger number of people as life progresses ahead.
So, what can be done?
People like us from across the world who are sitting, watching from the sidelines and concerned about the crisis may need to step up. We need to be with them (in whatever ways possible), to listen to them with an open heart and mind, pray with them and for them, help them move ahead with specialized professional support as needed and thereby support their journey of recovery to a place that brings them a greater sense of security, happiness and confidence again to come back to a resourceful life.
