By Nebal Snan

KUWAIT: Clinical Psychologist Hassan Al-Mousawi said the earthquake could have adverse mental health effects not only on those who lived through the earthquake but also on anyone following the crisis. People with family in hard-hit areas are among the worst-affected, he expects, because they are only hearing about the earthquake second-hand.

“The experience of living through the earthquake will be difficult to digest and could lead to post-traumatic stress and a relentless feeling of helplessness. There’s also the fear of an aftershock,” he said.

Such a catastrophic natural disaster could also lead to anxiety and a persistent fear of getting hit by an earthquake any second. “It’s also natural for anyone hearing of the news, regardless of whether they have ties to the devastated areas or not, to feel compassion for the victims. and feel a strong urge to help in any way they can,” he said.

For those outside the affected areas, such as the residents of Kuwait, one way to alleviate the sense of helplessness is to contribute to the aid efforts, if possible. Praying for the victims and connecting with Syrian and Turkish diasporas and offering them support could also help.