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Inculcate trauma healing programmes in activities …organisations, churches urged
• Dr Harriet Hill addressing the
conference Photo: by Ebo Gorman
Organisations and local churches have been urged to inculcate trauma healing programme in their respective activities to support victims during traumatic periods.
Former director of Trauma Healing Institute (THI) Dr Harriet Hill, made the appeal at this year’s Trauma Healing Community of Practice Conference held last Monday in Accra.
The conference, which was the second to be held under the auspices of the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) in collaboration with the THI was aimed at discussing trauma issues, exchanging ideas and seeking ways to reduce them.
The conference was to equip people in local churches and organisations to assist traumatised persons to receive healing and thereby help others.
It also aimed to sensitise regional and national leaders on trauma
issues and find pragmatic and col laborative ways to address them. It was on the theme “Recognising and responding to societal abuse.”
Participants were from Bible Society groups from churches, security agencies and countries such as Congo Brazzaville, Tanzania, Nigeria, Liberia, Niger and Mali.
The rest are Mozambique, America, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Cameroon.
Former Second Lady of Ghana, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, said it was important for people not to define individuals by their plight but rather help them recover from their traumatic experiences.
She further urged people who were going through suffering to speak up and seek help. “Don’t suffer alone, it can lead to depression or being suicidal. Reach out to us and get the needed help,” she said. According to her that the conference was aimed at bringing together trained stakeholders to share ideas and impact others.
The General Secretary of BSG, Rev. Dr Enoch Aryee-Atta, urged the public to show love and support to traumatised people in the society.
In all 129 countries actively practise trauma healing programmes and 2,305 organisations across the world inculcate trauma programmes in their activities.
By Portia Hutton-Mills