The Compassionate Reach International Approach: Initiating Post Traumatic Growth among Elementary School Teachers of Dulag North District after Super Typhoon Haiyan

3 PAGES (2144 WORDS) Disaster Studies Paper

 As vital instruments for rehabilitation, teachers must be equipped with approaches as students seek recuperation in schools after a disaster. When Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated Eastern Visayas, teachers became vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD). Compassionate Reach International (CRI), an American faith-based organization, responded to elementary schools training 117 teachers from 22 Dulag North District elementary schools to become psychological first aiders to their students and among themselves, exposing them to Critical Incident Stress Management modules. Using deductive content analysis, pre-intervention interviews showed manifestations of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual problems among respondents. After 2-3 days of exposure, interviews manifested increased self-efficacy, self-esteem, ease, patience, improved relationships with others, and deeper faith in God. CRI provided tools such as art materials, punching balloons, and board simulations and introduced techniques on ventilation and validation, healthy grieving, breathing, relaxation, role plays, and games.