Hidden scars of sinking town: Anxious residents battle psychological trauma - Hindustan Times
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Hidden scars of sinking town: Anxious residents battle psychological trauma

ByAmit Bathla I Edited by Shilpa Ambardar, Dehradun
Jan 23, 2023 07:54 PM IST

The turbulence and uncertainty about the future are causing insomnia and anxiety among the affected people, who are presently putting up in camps and other places, said mental health doctors camping in the historic town.

Being ‘forced’ to part from their damaged homes in the land subsidence-hit Joshimath town in Uttarakhand, displaced people have currently found hospitality in the government-run relief camps, hotels, and relatives’ homes in safer locations. But many probably won’t ever return to their old homes where they spent most of their lives.

Joshimath: Residents shift their belongings from an 'unsafe' building, at the land subsidence affected area in Joshimath, Sunday evening, Jan. 22, 2023. (PTI Photo)(PTI01_23_2023_000031B) (PTI)
Joshimath: Residents shift their belongings from an 'unsafe' building, at the land subsidence affected area in Joshimath, Sunday evening, Jan. 22, 2023. (PTI Photo)(PTI01_23_2023_000031B) (PTI)

The turbulence and uncertainty about the future are causing insomnia and anxiety among the affected people, who are presently putting up in camps and other places, said mental health doctors camping in the historic town.

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A 67-year-old woman, who has been living in a relief camp at Nagar Palika Parishad Joshimath since January first week, after her house in Singh Dhar ward developed major cracks, keeps on looking at a hairline crack — at regular intervals during the night — on a wall opposite to where her bed is placed in a tiny room.

“There are cracks everywhere in the town,” she said in despair.

She added, “Throughout the night, I think about our house on which I spent lakhs. It can fall any day now. Sometimes my blood pressure shoots up thinking about my younger son. We were looking for a girl for him and built two new rooms to accommodate the couple,” she said.

She remains anxious about an outstanding loan of ? 10 lakh which the family had taken to build the second story of their house which is likely to be razed by the administration in the days to come. She is also distressed about their future and how long the family of six will have to live in a compromised environment. She is not alone. Many like her have been experiencing similar trauma amid an unfolding crisis in the town which is on the verge of losing its identity.

A 42-year-old man, who was displaced from Chaien village to Chunar village near Joshimath in 2007 due to a hydropower project, stares at another rehabilitation. He struggles to get sleep at night thinking about the future of his two daughters and son.

“We are a family of five. We thought we left behind the horrific memories of 2007. We were wrong…. we didn’t. Another rehabilitation means we will again have to start from scratch. I may not be able to take the burden of financial responsibilities as I did many years ago,” he said.

He said, “I hardly get any sleep at night. I keep thinking about my wife and children whose education and career is my main concern. I don’t know how to cope up with the disastrous event unfolding in our life for the second time.”

Three trained psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist are deployed in the town of over 20,000 people to help people battle the mental trauma, said Dr Rajiv Sharma, chief medical officer (CMO) of Chamoli district.

One of them is Dr Jyotsana Naithwal, who was born and brought up in Joshimath. Her own house has developed cracks. She has been displaced to a hotel along with her family.

A trained psychiatrist from AIIMS Rishikesh, who is deployed at community health centre (CHC), Joshimath, the 32-year-old doctor said, “As the situation aggravates in the town, the major health ailment among affected people is insomnia and anxiety. Once they are diagnosed with such problems, the counsellor helps them to cope through using relaxation techniques, and deep breathing exercises. If somebody needs treatment, they are treated accordingly.”

After taking part in two medical camps and going to different relief camps, even though she is back to her normal OPD duty at CHC, Joshimath, she makes sure she asks the patients if they have symptoms concerning any mental health problem.

“It is challenging especially at a time when my family has also been affected due to the ongoing crisis. But….these are my people. I can’t leave them alone,” she said.

Anoop Nautiyal, a Dehradun-based social activist and founder of NGO Social Development Communities Foundation, said, “One thing that Uttarakhand has ignored for long is looking at the climate crisis through the lens of mental health. It is high time that advocacy on climate change focuses on mental health and well-being because events like Joshimath have profound psychological impacts.”

“The understanding of intersectionality of climate and mental health is vital for a disaster prone state like Uttarakhand. The town of Joshimath is full of cases of stress and uncertainty. Both government and society need to be far more sensitized/prepared to handle such grim realities!” he said.

Dr Naveen Dimri, another doctor on duty, said, “While counselling the affected people in multiple relief camps, insomnia turned out to be one of the main problems they are facing. They have been forced to leave their house which they were deeply connected to and now they are living in a compromised setting. Like a family of six living in two rooms in relief camps. Such people generally develop sleep disorder. Some of the affected people also have anxiety about their future, like where they will go from here, how their life would be after this crisis.”

Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana said, “A team of psychiatrists is keeping a tab on the mental health of affected families living in relief camps and elsewhere. The affected people are being continuously counselled. In the hour of crisis, efforts are being taken to maintain their morale and uplift them psychologically from the ongoing crisis. Around 800 people have been examined overall.”

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