Dr. Ani Kalayjian and Crystal Barry Click here or on the above image to view more photos The Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention’s (ATOP) first Mental Health Outreach Project (MHOP) team, invited by the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) as well as the American University of Beirut (AUB), arrived safely in Lebanon on May 15th. On the ground, the team met to review their tight schedule which included a series of lectures and presentations, a radio interview on the Voice of Van show, interviews with newspapers, a two-day post disaster humanitarian outreach training program, and a visit to Nabatieh and Tyre in the south of Lebanon to assess the traumatic imprint of the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict on the children and other survivors in the area. Day 1: The first MHOP team toured Beirut to observe both the social and infrastructural impact of the Lebanon-Israeli conflict. The team was pleasantly surprised to observe a vibrant and lively community packed into the restaurants, pubs, beach clubs, night clubs, shops, and cafes of the area. Even in the drizzling rain and fog, it took over an hour to find a restaurant that could accommodate the team because most were already at capacity. The men and women of Beirut, it seemed, wanted to enjoy the moment in the company of friends and family. Most remembered all too well being deprived of their everyday social and personal livelihood in the recent past, and, in conjunction with the everyday threat of a future war, were left only with the present in which to enjoy themselves and practice a measure of control over their lives. In the wake of the conflict last year, one often heard such expressions as “live each day as if it were your last.” Day 2: Dr. Ani Kalayjian and Crystal Barry received a warm welcome from faculty and students at Haigazian University. At AUB, the team delivered a lecture entitled “Disaster and Mass Trauma: Coping, Resilience, and Meaning-Making,” which discussed the socio-psychological consequences of traumatic experience. At Haigazian University, Dr. Kalayjian lectured on “The Generational Transmission of Genocide, War, and Mass Trauma.” Both lectures were enthusiastically received by the audience for whom the topics struck a particularly personal note – the recent history of Lebanon is infected by the socio-psychological strain of violent conflict. Beginning with the 1975 civil war that lasted for over 25 years, the Israeli occupation from 1982 to 2000, the massacres of Qana of 1995, the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri in February 2005, the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006, and the most recent conflicts between Lebanese political parties, the Lebanese people know too intimately the destabilized and chaotic nature of life during war. Remnants of the most recent war and the current political conflict, such as cluster bombs which remain scattered throughout the city and country alike. War and violent conflict has become the norm rather than exception to Lebanese life. It seemed to undercut any hope for peace and progress, leaving the trauma of a traumatic history and uncertain future unresolved. Most of the listeners at the lecture expressed a desire to get as much accomplished as possible before the inevitable war begins again. Days 3 and 4: The MHOP team was busy giving an intense two-day training program in which Dr. Kalayjian’s Biopsychosocial and Spiritual Model was discussed and implemented with participants from the audience. The participants were in the difficult position of attempting to resolve and work through their current trauma when past traumas remained unresolved and future traumatic events were expected. When asked to speak about their present condition and experiences, the majority expressed feelings of helplessness and deep frustration concerning the perceived lack of Lebanese self-determination in the face of multiple and conflicting foreign political agendas. Some participants expressed anger and resentment at regional political schemes in which they saw Lebanon being used as a pawn in Middle Eastern power politics. In spite of these feelings of hopelessness, the participants seemed to sense that catharsis would come with communication, and exhibited courage and a genuine interest in peace throughout the session. Preliminary findings from the assessment showed mild to moderate levels of post trauma symptomatology. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorders were discussed and reviewed throughout the training with a focus on types of traumatic experience. Whether the experience of western countries was comparable to the Lebanese situation was part of an open debate. Although the experience of trauma is universal (typically expressing itself through symptoms such as shock, disbelief, fear, etc.) there was a recognizable difference between people who, for example, experienced trauma after 9/11, versus people who live in a place such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, or Palestine, in which traumatic conflicts are ongoing, extending into the historical past and (for most participants interviewed) foreseeable future. It was eventually agreed upon and understood by the MHOP team and the participants that without peace and a follow-up dialogue for reconciliation people in Lebanon will not be easily assessed nor fully recovered. Days 5-7: The MHOP team traveled to Aleppo and Damascus in Syria to deliver lectures, meet community leaders, and give interviews. The streets and markets were full of celebrations as the Syrians anticipated the re-election of their president Bashar al-Assad on May 25th. Day 8: As the borders had recently been closed due to new conflicts that had irrupted in Lebanon, the MHOP team had trouble returning to Beirut. Once there, the team noticed that the streets, shops and restaurants were deserted as people feared that the violent attacks cropping up all around Lebanon would move into the city, which is actually what happened. It was extremely difficult to travel around the city due to blockades, police barricades, military tanks, and check points at almost every corner. The only audible noises were the bombs and sirens that echoed throughout the city, a complete transformation from the lively urban atmosphere the team encountered on their arrival. Again the team
