Trauma and Resilience IV
During the Learning and Resilience course I explored the effect of war and violent terrorism on school going Pakistani children especially in the wake of the Army Public School Attack in Peshawar.
This involved the effect on the survivors, and the indirect effect of all the other students in the nation.
While the government aimed to provided counselling many people opted out as there is a great amount of social stigma attached to counselling in the Pakistani context. Moreover, many professionals were not able to provide the right assistance or support.
In general Pakistani schools have no concept of a guidance counsellor or a child psychologist as they are considered both unnecessary and a taboo.
There was also a significant shortage of resources, with which to rectify these situations. Indirectly affected students were provided no support.
The attack became an opportunity to rally people’s support under nationalistic propaganda.
I explored Animal Assisted Therapy as a solution that would not only help address trauma but also Pakistan’s immense problem with animal cruelty and abuse.
I need to review further literature regarding all this.
