Jordan Times
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Counselling
hotline launched for terror victims
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — A counselling hotline was officially
launched on Monday to provide psychological and legal counselling for victims
and their families affected by the Nov. 9 terror attacks in Amman.
Around 20 psychiatrists have volunteered their services for free, according to
the deputy board director of the Jordanian Society for the Prevention of Family
Violence (JSPFV), Reem Abu Hassan.
Abu Hassan, whose organisation set up the service, said the lines will be in
operation from 8:00am to 8:00pm daily for a period of six weeks.
“Specialised people will be on hand to answer the phone and direct people's
calls to the various psychiatrists,” Abu Hassan told a press conference at the
JSPFV headquarters in Jabal Hussein.
The hotlines for victims and their families are: 079-9626005 and 06 5689979.
The triple suicide attacks on the Radisson SAS, the Grand Hyatt and Days Inn
hotels killed 60 people and injured more than 90 others. Al Qaeda in Iraq
claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Abu Hassan said the society has extended its hands to other national
organisation that have dedicated their time and efforts to aiding victims and
their families.
She added that the long-term plan is to share the society's experience with
other governmental and nongovernmental organisations that will “subsequently lay
the basis for a national plan to support families and victims in crisis.”
“Our initiative is a practical response to the attacks that targeted the safety
and security of our people and nation,” JSPFV board director Asma Khader told
reporters.
Khader added that the society has future plans to provide counselling for people
who deal with disasters and accidents such as the police, coroners and the Civil
Defence Department rescue teams.
“It is important for everybody to understand that resorting to a psychiatrist
for counselling is not a shameful thing and does not mean that people suffer
from mental problems. We need to get rid of this common idea and get the
necessary help,” Khader added.
Last week, Her Majesty Queen Rania launched an initiative including a national
system for crisis intervention and psychological support for families and
victims.
“Such initiatives are important to overcome this crisis and any other disasters,
especially the psychological effects resulting from such catastrophes,” the
Queen said.
“Such incidents create many questions, especially among children, that need
answers to explain the feelings and scenes that might confuse them,” the Queen
added.