Psychologist stresses need to urgently resolve displaced Artsakh people's social problems
October 10 is marked annually as World Mental Health Day. Highlighting the importance of the day, Panorama.am talked to Khachatur Gasparyan, chair of the YSMU Department of Medical Psychology and head of the Intra Mental Health Center, about the mental health problems of people forcibly displaced from Artsakh in the wake of the mid-September Azerbaijani attack which saw Baku seizure full control of Artsakh.
"Many psychologists are ready to conduct free consultations for the Artsakh Armenians. At this point, at the initiative of the YSMU Psychology Department, a group of psychologists is working at the National Burns Center, where Artsakh patients are being treated after the explosion in Stepanakert, as well as at the Mikayelyan University Hospital and the Muratsan Medical Center. The therapies involve both the victims and their relatives, who also need emotional support. These problems require complex solutions," Gasparyan says.
The psychologist claims the displaced people from Artsakh are facing numerous mental health problems related to loss aversion or material losses. According to him, if they experience anger outbursts, those around them should not take it personally. Sometimes this anger can be directed against the leadership of Artsakh and Armenia, who failed to pursue a competent policy or make diplomatic efforts to prevent the exodus of people from their homeland.
"When people experience a loss, they become more irritable. If you witness someone's negative emotional outbursts, you need to understand that it is directed not at you, but at the situation and the enemy," he noted.
As for children, the psychologist stresses they are very vulnerable emotionally, especially when their parents are in a difficult mental state.
"If parents are confused, helpless and do not know how to act in a situation, it can affect their children's psyche," he says.
Khachatur Gasparyan stresses the need to urgently meet the basic needs of the displaced people, because if their social problems remain unresolved, the mental problems will become more pronounced.
He calls for pan-Armenian consolidation as soon as possible to deal with the current difficult situation.
Related news
Newsfeed
Videos
Artur Vanetsyan: I think you'll see me more often at various events in future
