The mental health service utilizing EMDR with Tsunami survivors in Thailand

Abstract

Life after Tsunami was difficult and the survivors have become traumatized due to the loss and the fear. Different techniques have been brought in to help people heal psychologically, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was one of them. This study reported the mental health service utilizing EMDR in Khao Lak under the Making Waves Project during February-December 2005. The participants were 415 Tsunami survivors who demonstrated psychological impact from the event. The Impact of Event Scales was used to identify the target survivors before EMDR therapy being provided by the trained EMDR therapists. The data were collected using EMDR session notes that indicated descriptive data and psychological conditions of the participants. The results revealed that 52.53% were recovered cases and 39.52% were current cases that needed subsequent follow-up sessions. Seventy-one percent of recovered participants demonstrated rapid recovery (n=218) after a single session. EMDR could be used with all ranges of age from young children <10 years old (5.30%) to the elderly > 60 years (3.83%). The majority of participants (12.05%) were in 26-45-age group. 67.71% were female. 76.14% received individual therapy and 23.85% involved in EMDR group therapy. This study suggested that EMDR was a significant outreach mental health service for people in the community. More EMDR trainings must be provided for mental health professionals in Thailand to serve speedier mental health service throughout the country.