"Nepal Police will provide counseling to its staff with self-care therapy programs in 14 different districts," said SSP Sarbendra Khanal, who coordinates the program. "The program deals with self awareness during disaster, progressive relaxation exercise related to brain and art of facing vulnerability during a disaster while continuing the duties," he said.Three groups comprising of four members each, trained by Dr Nivedita Chalill, a Mumbai based counselor and art therapist, will be deployed in the quake affected areas, according to the Nepal Police.
Self-care therapy is a good way to help disaster-affected people to recover from trauma, SSP Khanal said. The affected personnel will enjoy music, play games, engage with the family members, and meditate during the program.
As per an estimate provided by the police, over 7,000 of its personnel have been directly affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and recurrent aftershocks. Six police personnel have lost their lives during the disaster and more than 183 injured are under going treatment across the country. Some of them have lost their family members and many have lost their homes.
"We hope the therapy will bring positive results by healing trauma and helping the victims cope with the stress," he said.
Meanwhile, personnel from Nepal Police Music School have been using musical programs in different temporary settlements focusing quake-affected children in the Kathmandu valley. They have also planned to extend the programs to other districts at earliest.
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