Psychologist warns victims will feel 'very, very helpless'

HUMAN IMPACT:AS FLOOD levels remain critical in parts of south and east Galway, HSE West's principal psychologist says people directly affected face an "enormous challenge" in coping with post-traumatic stress.

Communities will cope better than families living in isolated areas, but most have not yet had time to hit their psychological “low” point, says HSE West principal psychologist Clare Gormley.

"People who have had to leave their homes will be very tired, very shocked and still very busy,"she told The Irish Times. "So the demand for our services would not have peaked yet."

HSE West has been running a counselling telephone help-line since last Monday and has prepared a “coping strategy ” document which will be distributed nationally by the HSE through health centres and GPs.

The help-line is run by a group of 10 staff trained in counselling “post-trauma support”, while community welfare officers are running separate phone lines.

“One of the issues that international research on the impact of natural disasters shows is that people will have a complete loss of confidence, and a feeling that there is no normality,” Ms Gormley said. “This is hitting people early in the winter in an unprecedented year of swine flu, recession, job losses or income reduction. To lose a home to flooding on top of that is an enormous challenge to cope with.

“And it is different to a fire because there will be a fear that this is something that could recur.

“Extreme reactions are normal. People will feel very, very helpless, and research shows that community support is a key positive factor which can be empowering and unifying.”

Galway County Council has had crews on standby over the weekend due to a forecast of between 20mm and 40mm of rain.

In south Galway, the Shannon is still “higher than 1954” and very close to the village of Clonfert, but its level has dropped about 15in, according to Irish Farmers Association vice-president Michael Silke.

IFA environment spokesman Michael Kelly said the flooding had left an “enormous psychological imprint” on people. Visitors’ centres at Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee near Gort were surrounded by water, a number of villages between Gort and Kinvara were still trying to cope with flood waters, and people are “distraught”.

“We are afraid that this will now be forgotten about because it has already disappeared off the television screens now that roads are reopening,“Mr Kelly said.

The HSE West help-line is 1800 245 600 (9.30am to 5.30pm weekdays). The HSE flooding help-line is 1800 283 036 (daytime hours).