The Tragedy of the Collapse of the Islamic Boarding School Building, IPB University Lecturer Highlights the Psychological Trauma of the Students
The collapse of the Islamic boarding school building, which claimed many victims, left deep sorrow, especially for the students who survived. Behind the rescue and physical recovery efforts, there is another important aspect that needs to be considered, namely the mental health of the survivors.
Addressing this issue, psychiatrist and lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine (FK) IPB University, dr Riati Sri Hartini, SpKJ, MSc, explained that trauma can significantly impact learning motivation and daily life.
“When someone experiences trauma, the part of the brain called the limbic system, which regulates emotions and fear, becomes very active. As a result, the frontal lobe of the brain, which functions for thinking, focusing, and decision-making, does not work optimally,” she explained.
This condition, she continued, often makes trauma victims find it difficult to concentrate, become easily anxious, and lose their enthusiasm for learning. Therefore, trauma treatment needs to be carried out carefully and continuously.
In addition, she also explained that the psychological impact experienced by the students can vary greatly.
“Each student can experience different psychological effects. This depends on their individual experiences during the incident and how they interpret the event. Some only saw it from a distance, some felt the tremors or debris directly, and some may even have been injured,” explained dr Riati.
Therefore, she continued, it is important to conduct individual psychological assessments to determine the extent to which a student has been psychologically affected. “So, it cannot be generally concluded that all students will experience the same thing.”
Regarding long-term effects, dr Riati said that the psychological effects on children who experience disasters at an early age depend on various factors.
“Many things have an influence, such as personality, perspective on events, social support from those around them, and even genetic factors and spiritual values,” she said.
Children who receive emotional support and a safe environment usually recover more quickly than those who do not.
dr Riati emphasized that treating fear is the first step before restoring the spirit of learning.
“The main thing is to help them come to terms with their fears first. These fears need to be accepted and released gradually, not suppressed. Once their emotions have stabilized, their enthusiasm for learning will recover on its own because the thinking center in their brains will be able to function normally again,” she concluded. (AS) (IAAS/NRA)
