TITRE : PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS AFTER BESLAN TRAGEDY
AUTEUR : Elena MOROZOVA, child psychologist, PhD, Russian Academy of Medicine, Moscow / Alexander VENGER, Child Psychologist, PhD, professor, “Dubna” International University, Moscow.
EDITION : United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
ANNEE : 2009
PAGES : 157
INTRODUCTION :
The terrorist attack in Beslan in Republic of North Ossetia/Alania surpassed in its cruelty and brutality everything that had occurred before. On September 1, 2004, a group of terrorists captured 1128 people (more than half of them – children) and kept them hostage for three days in the building of Beslan school #1. During the entire time, they neither gave the hostages food nor water. The standoff with the terrorists ended with an explosion, a fire and a storming of the building. More than 300 hostages died, and those who survived were wounded during the storming.
In this book we describe our experience of providing psychological help to the victims. We hope it is useful for experts who work with children and teenagers who have endured various psychological traumas – not necessarily as heavy as that one suffered by Beslan hostages.
This book provides description of the condition of children and teenagers asking for our help, the psychotherapeutic techniques and approaches applied, and the organizational forms of work. We have concentrated attention on practical aspects of psychological help to the victims. The theoretical questions concerning stressful and post-stressful conditions and their correction, are covered only to the degree necessary for understanding of the practical material.
This also explains the minimum number of literary references given in the book. Unfortunately, working conditions in Beslan did not allow us to use the standardized techniques of evaluation of psychological condition of children before and after psychotherapy. The challenge was not only in the lack of time, but also in local authorities’ attitude. Therefore, for the purpose of revealing the after effect of psychological trauma, its influence on the condition of children and teenagers we considered it necessary to conduct questionnaire survey of their parents and teachers. However the permission to carrying out such questioning had not been given to us: apparently, the refusal was caused by the general attitude of the authorities to restrict the information on the situation in Beslan.
Therefore we were compelled to confine ourselves to the data on observations, conversations and informal tests – in particular, drawings.
We wish to express deep appreciation to those who helped and continue to help us in this work. Successful rehabilitation work in Beslan would be impossible without constant support of V.P. Karginov, the Head Physician of the Central District Clinical Hospital of Beslan, V.C. Baskaev, the Deputy Head Physician, T.N. Ryzhovoa, the Senior Psychiatrist of the North Ossetia/Alania Republic. We are sincerely grateful to our Beslan and Vladikavkaz colleagues: F.V. Bagaeva, A.V. Borodina, A.A. Dzansolov, L.M. Kallagova, M.T. Kanukova, I.E. Marzaev, T.V. Naskidaeva, V.A. Plieva, E.V. Ryzhova, M.M. Sosranova and others. We are grateful also to the organizations and private sponsors, whose financial support made it possible to organize the system of psychological help to Beslan children and teenagers, in particular, Keystone Human Services and the United States Agency for International Development.
Authors
Alexander Venger, Ph.D. : Alexander Venger is a child psychologist, doctor of psychological sciences, professor of psychology at the International University “Dubna”, and Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology at the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education. For his work on the psychological rehabilitation of victims of mass disasters, Venger was awarded the Cross award for “Defender of the Fatherland” the 2nd degree.
Elena Morozova, child psychologist, PhD, Russian Academy of Medicine, Moscow.
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