Earthquake trauma haunts victims who get help from volunteers in Venezuela

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Earthquakes can be traumatic experiences. Mental health experts know the trauma can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, depression, and even insomnia.

This is why psychologists are volunteering their time with survivors of the 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck on June 24 in northern Venezuela.

Some children experience nightmares and panic attacks. The experience has been difficult for 12-year-old Sofia Aldara and 11-year-old Miguel Ramos, who both deal with fear.

“I felt like the buildings near us were going to collapse,” Miguel said in Spanish.

Juan Manuel Maestre, a psychologist who is volunteering in La Guaira, said many of the children are grieving loved ones and have also lost their schools.

Daniel Rocha, a volunteer, said mental health is usually not a priority.

“A lot of times, they say, ‘This is the first time we are talking about what happened because since the earthquake, we are actually trying to survive.’ We are trying to help our brothers, our sisters,” Rocha said.

Andres Muskus, a psychologist who is volunteering, said breaking the ice is part of the process.

“We start playing with them, we start creating a confident and secure place, and in the middle of the play, we can start talking about how they feel,” Muskus said.

Daniel Rocha said mental health treatment is powerful when it comes to hope.

“They really need people with the skills to make them feel they can do better, they can work, they can have a future,” Rocha said.

Officials reported that the death toll of the earthquakes in Venezuela surpassed 5,300. There were about 16,740 injured, and the property damage was estimated at more than $19.6 billion.

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