The Official College of Psychology of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has attended, through its Emergency and Catastrophe Intervention Group (GIPEC), to more than 300 affected by the fire originated in Arafo on August 15.
A team of 60 psychologists has been working since then in the different pavilions set up throughout the island to welcome the displaced by fire.
The dean of the College, Carmen Linares, highlighted in a statement that psychological support “becomes vital at this time, whenand the shock of the fire and the uncertainty about what might happen mean that many of those affected do not know how to deal with these situations”.
In addition, the dean points out, “on this occasion we saw how most of those affected initially arrived at the ward not only with high levels of anxietybut also with a great need to vent”, which is why all the COP professionals were carrying out a professional accompaniment through the different enabled pavilions.
The secretary of the Official College of Psychology of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and coordinator of the intervention, Tamara Cabrera, points out that “the significant number of volunteers, as well as those affected, highlight the importance of access to psychological care in emergency situations or catastrophes of this caliber”.
The attention paid has focused on the active listening and psychological assistance so that the people treated can face anxiety attacks, negative anticipatory thoughts or even conflict resolution, among other aspects.
In addition, during the first days of the fire, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Official College of Psychology also set up helplines for psychological support to those affected who instead of being evicted They had to confine themselves to their homes.
