The Psycho-Social support Programme

Is aimed at promoting action for overcoming the problems of Mental Health in the Parish Communities caused by Man made and Natural Disasters, the growing scourge of substance and other abuses at a wide range of social levels.

OUR GOAL

In keeping with Mission and vision of Seth Sarana our goal is to establish Psychosocial well being in each person affected by human and natural disasters and to strive towards attaining the state of being or doing well in all aspect of life.

OUR OBJECTIVES

Rehabilitation of victims – Specially Children, Students, Youth, and Family & Drug addicted.

To utilize various coping skills that help individuals, groups and communities to handle basic psychosocial problems.

Train volunteers in the diocese – deanery & Parish level.

CHALLENGES

 The lack of trainers at the grassroots level

 Lack of statistical information about the psychosocial need in diocese.

 Lack of clear understanding and knowledge of psychosocial need i.e. psychological treatment & Counseling

 The lack of specialized trainers in areas such as alcoholism and drug addiction.

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ACTIVITIES >>>

Counseling Course " Open Door 2008"

The first segment of the counseling course "Door Open"  is being conducted by Mrs. Inge Missmahl who comes to us through our facilitating partners Caritas Germany.

Click Here For More Information  >>>

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Awareness on Responsible Parenthood

Three programmes were held on 5, 19 and 28 August at Sedawatte and Mutwal in the Colombo area and Wadduwa in the Kalutara District on Awareness for Responsible Parenthood.

The programme dealt with the building of Christian values within a family. Parents were also reminded of their marriage vows to remain together in crisis situations and extend these principles in the education and values of their children.

A total of 440 parents attended these programmes

Two qualified resource persons facilitated these programmes. 

Identity Formation

Five programmes on Identity formation were done as follows: 

10 August at Pitipana Negombo for 31 school children

13 and 14 August at St Sebastian’s College Negombo. A total of 76 parents and students attended

17 August for 50 School children in the Moratuwa Deanery

23 August at Ragama for 75 Sunday School Prefects

24 August at Payagala for 125 school children.

To create awareness among the youth about their mental and biological changes which play a role in their general outlook and future behavioral patterns with the society at large. The Programmes were facilitated by Rev Fr Calixtus Chaplain for the Family Apostolate in the Colombo Archdiocese. 

Needs Assessment of Future Activities 

Two programmes were done on 11 and 18 August at Colombo and Negombo for Volunteer Counsellors in regard to Needs Assessments for Future Activities. A total of 60 volunteers attended. Rev Fr Calixtus and a Doctor facilitated the events. 

This is an assessment of the Psychosocial needs of the target groups. By these means it is intended to find out the various counseling needs of the people eg trauma, drug and substance abuse, alcoholism, family problems etc. 

On 18 August a programme on Love, Finance and Education was conducted at St Peters Church Negombo for 150 Sunday School Prefects.

The essence of the programme was on how to mitigate the influences of Love, Finance and Education and judiciously use these ingredients in order to move forward to a better life. 

The programme was done by a qualified Resource Person of the Institute of Lecturing Counselling and Structuring Yakkala. 

On 28 August A programme was conducted at St Peters Church Negombo for 150 Sunday School Teachers on the Role of a Teacher.

The focus was mainly to inculcate good habits to school children so that they will turn out to be useful citizens. viz: discipline, punctuality, time management, tolerance etc. 

The event was facilitated by a Jesuit Priest Rev Fr Lasantha Abrew an experienced Teacher.   

Again on 28 August a programme was conducted at Mutwal Colombo for 50 Sunday School Teachers on Drug Prevention and Substance Abuse facilitated by a qualified Resource Person.

Psychosocial Support Programme (04/05/2007)

Mrs Inge Missmahal Consultant from Caritas Germany on Psychosocial Development and Training is visiting Sri Lanka from 4 to 8 June 2007. She is in Sri Lanka to assess the scope of Seth Sarana’s Psychosocial Support Programme and identify its needs with the help of Caritas Sri Lanka. 

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PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKSHOP PROGRAM AT SUBODHI  INSTITUTE – PILIYANDALA

 The above workshop was conducted by Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando Director Subodhi and Fr. Aruna on 30^th & 31^st March 2007. There were about 56 volunteers from the Y.C.S, Holy Childhood, Youth, Family Apostolate, Animators and the staff of Seth Sarana.

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PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM

In the last two months we have conducted a number of Psychosocial awareness programs for Group Leaders and Seth Sarana staff at sub office level. In content these programmes gave an awareness on psychosocial counselling by developing skills on counselling and providing knowledge to counsellors on how to overcome a difficult situation with counselling trauma affected people.
A total of about 400 persons participated in these programmes and from the feedback we received a majority of the participants were appreciative of the manner in which the training was imparted especially the methodology to be used in handling difficult situations.

For the future we have organized a number of programmes for children and youth in Tsunami affected schools and parishes. We also conducted Child based programmes for Children and Youth in collaboration with the Holy Apostolate who work in support of the well being of children (including spiritualism)and for those affected by drug abuse in the Archdiocese of Colombo.

The Psychosocial Support Programmes are facilitated by members of the clergy and laymen who are qualified trainers and counsellors.