When Quacks Duck the Facts and Other Waterfowl Puns

Firstly, I hope that one and all had a safe holiday season and a Happy New Year. I spent some time up North with my parents for Thanksgiving and Chanukah, followed by a week-long vacation in the Caribbean, and then laid low for a few weeks at home around Christmas and New Year’s.

I know this story has been played back and forth for a while now, but living in Louisiana and seeing the new season of Duck Dynasty has begun as planned, I thought a light first post of the year might address the Phil Robertson “scandal.” (Did it have a name, by the way? Robertsongate? Ducknado?)

The Humanity Of It All

I usually don’t like posting about the same topic twice in a row, but I was reading up on the humanitarian efforts in Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan, and there seems to be a severe lack of mental health resources in the region. All of the organizations are working to provide food, shelter, clean water, all of which are vitally important, but without the mental health aspect, Syrians are not going to be able to recover. Everyone that has been displaced – even those that have not – is going through trauma now.

I saw the IRC is providing mental health services, but it seems to be concentrated only on women who are victims of sexual violence, not addressing the more widespread issue of being forced out of your house, away from your home, and being deprived of everything you once owned. Mercy Corps is providing interventions for children in order to help heal the trauma.

Back in June, Médecins Sans Frontières warned of increasing health problems as the situation worsened, particularly mental health. Unfortunately, MSF seems to be based in Tripoli, and there doesn’t seem to be much indication as to how far social workers are able to travel to visit those that cannot come to their hospital.

At this point in the crisis, yes material goods are going to be important. But there are so many organizations all working to that end, it seems as though it would be a good opportunity for an organization with experience in PTSD and mental health issues to step in and offer counseling for women, for children, for men, as well as for the aids working with the refugees throughout the crisis.

In addition, many refugees are Muslim. The Islamic faith puts great emphasis on the community. As a result of displacement, these strong communities are being ripped apart. Loved ones, friends, family, neighbors are all being sent in different directions. Global Islamic Foundations and Organizations that could mobilize to provide mental health resources as well as that spiritual guidance and direction, and to help people find new communities and support systems through this crisis.

It cannot be stressed enough how much trauma impacts every aspect of life and recovery, from productivity and ability to execute a job to physical health to personal relationships. If those directly involved in the conflict, whether they are refugees or those working to assist them, don’t receive proper care, there is no way, once the fighting is over, that Syria will be able to rebuild and prosper. These millions of displaced people are going to have to rebuild cities, businesses, road and infrastructure, in essence their entire lives. They need to have the emotional, spiritual, and psychological backing in order to tackle this astoundingly huge undertaking. Studies show that the longer you wait to intervene following a trauma, the longer it will take to heal. If you wait too long, you may never recover.