Initiated by the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health program of Caritas Cambodia, a participatory discussion workshop on “Psychosocial for People Affected by Disasters” will be conducted from 8-11 February, 2010 at Caritas National office in Phnom Penh. The workshop will gather about 25 participants who are project director, coordinators, program managers and program officers from the 8 Caritas regional office. Psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses from mental health association/bureau, Ministry of Health will be also in attendance. The organizer, Mrs. Sok Dearozet said the main objective of this workshop is to sensitize participants to understand about psychosocial care/intervention for the Disaster affected people. This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Srikala Barath, Professor from NIMHANS, Bangalore, India.

Caritas Cambodia witnessed the hardship and difficulties of the recent Typhoon Ketsana affected families and we have done lots of work in helping and responding to their need either humanitarian support and health care. During this period, we also learn that psychological problem has to be high consideration among children, elderly , disabled people the most.

As you know, Our Caritas staffs did already a lots works and helped many people affected by disasters and mainly we look at the emergency needs and for this workshop we will focus a lots about psychological care / support and understand about the psychological reactions/problems people faced due to disasters and know how to provide psychosocial care to people (Children, Elderly, Disabled) who affected by disasters.