Residents still 'scared and vulnerable' after quake

Many Christchurch residents are feeling scared and vulnerable in their own homes as aftershocks continue to hit the city almost two weeks after the initial quake, a counsellor says.

The Salvation Army has set up trauma counselling for those who need help coping after the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck on September 4.

A team of 20 counsellors has been flown in from Australia to give local workers a break and will stay until the weekend when it will be replaced by another team.

The counsellors are based at the Salvation Army Corps on Linwood Avenue where people were lining up today for food, supplies and support.

"A lot of people we have talked to are worried about their houses and whether they are safe in them. Heaps of people don't want to go home, particularly while the tremors continue as it brings back flashbacks of the first earthquake," Major Susan Reese said.

There were those that lived alone and they probably were having the hardest time, she said.

Most people tell counsellors they dealt well with the first earthquake but were having a hard time feeling safe as the aftershocks continued.

"A lot of people are feeling quite anxious and they can't relax as they have no way of knowing when it is going to be over."

The Salvation Army trauma line had fielded about 200 calls each day since it was set up.

Maj Reese, who has worked as a counsellor for 30 years and helped in the aftermath of the Victorian bush fires, said many just needed a chance to talk about what they were going through but some needed to be referred to more formal counselling as they had severe trauma.

There was also debriefing and counselling set up for the counsellors themselves.


 

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