Liceo holds stress debriefing sessions

By Michael Andrew W. Yu




“LAUGHTER is the best medicine.”



This phrase is indeed, true, as the recently held Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) sessions conducted by the Philippine Society of Life Coaches (PSLC) at Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU) gave laughter to at least 100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are now temporarily staying at the “Tent City” in Barangay Canitoan.
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The fun activity hoped to relieve the stress the IDPs experienced from Tropical Storm Sendong in December 2011.

Linda Mondejar-Schaefer, PSLC president, said the activity was successful as the IDPs, composed of children, adolescents and adults, had a grand time laughing it out as they participate in the different sessions.

Schaefer said the activity was well divided and manageable based on the number of participants.
 Aside from relieving their stress, the participants were also given gift packs.

“The stress debriefing takes five to six weeks after the incident but we are here to extract and vent the emotions of the victims,” Schaefer said.



She said they have vented the emotions of the survivors, especially the children, by asking them to draw, sing and play.



At least six representatives from PSLC conducted the activity, which were also done in other evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.



Psychology major students and volunteers also shared their expertise in stress debriefing.
 Fritzie C. Estoque from the Liceo Center for Community Development said it was evident that the IDPs enjoyed the activity as they also get to learn new things.

Estoque said there would be more activities lined up in the coming days for the victims of Sendong.

Indeed, “laughter is the best medicine,” it being an antidote to stress, pain and conflict.

 
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on February 23, 2012.