13 - REFLECTIONS: THE SPRITUAL DIMENSION

Mental Health - Everyone is affected: One of the cornerstone principles of understanding the effects of emergencies and disasters (of any type) is the assumption that virtually everyone is affected by it. The nature, magnitude, population vulnerability and duration are of course quite variable, but some type of psychological effect is to be expected.

“Normal” response: Most reactions represent ordinary (expectable) responses to the extraordinary situation that is created. Calling these reactions “normal” does not mean they are trivial and it is easy to be fooled by a calmness that hides the signs of hidden symptoms. Relief workers must not let their wishful thinking interfere with objective assessment.

The spiritual dimension: The physical, emotional cognitive and behavioral signs of stress easily gain attention, but the spiritual dimension of stress is less often addressed. Because of the centrality of religious beliefs in most cultures, understanding how and why the religious beliefs of people are challenged, weakened or strengthened is of crucial importance in managing interventions aiming to reduce societal distress.

In natural disasters particularly, the offending agent of destruction is not as easily defined as in human-caused disasters. Responsibility is assigned to one single God, to one or more of a pantheon of deities, to one’s karma, or to one’s own misdeeds, as in “what did I (we) do to deserve this?”

Seeking help, finding social support and understanding adversity often take place in the context of religious belief and in the religious community. Sometimes referred to as the first line of defense, people find comfort in their spiritual leaders and in the prayerful protective environment of their temples, mosques, churches or school. Priests, like community elders and politicians, rise to the event, easing the victims’ pain by sharing their grief.

Mental health experts who fail to involve the faith community in designing and delivering relief interventions are not making use of one of society’s most significant natural healing systems.

In all cultures religion plays a role in daily life, but in times of distress religion is called upon to become involved in rituals that tradition demands. How much more will they be needed in mass traumas and in situations where bodies are missing, whole communities left bereft and without a base.

Speaking at a lecture on “The Humanizing affect of contemporary religion on society” Lynn Ockersz, Associate Editor Daily News, remarked:

The ideal of service to mankind is a central element in the teachings of all major religions; we wouldn’t be witnessing the current effort on the part of the clergy and committed laymen of most of the religions of the land to bring relief to the victims of the tidal wave disaster of last December, if love and compassion for one’s fellow beings was not considered a cardinal virtue by these religions.

A fact worth noting is that the humble Buddhist temple is playing a key role at present in bringing to the suffering in this tragedy irrespective of race, religion or social status. The same is true of many Hindu Kovils and Muslim mosques. Indeed, people fleeing the onrushing waves went first to these places of worship for safety and comforting.

How to support the spiritual dimension? As noted above, the spiritual dimension of social life represented by what we loosely call the religious community needs no invitation to become involved. What may need to be done is to provide support and assistance in integrating their strengths towards the overall relief needs.