Police Hold Trauma Healing For Victims Of Riots In Jember

JEMBER - The Jember Resort Police team sent psychological personnel to provide trauma healing to riot victims whose houses and vehicles were burned by a group of people in Mulyorejo Village, Jember Regency, East Java.

"There is a need for this trauma healing program to be held to avoid trauma to the community, both children and adults," said Jember Police Chief AKBP Hery Purnomo as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, August 7.

He said victims affected by the riots were expected to quickly get up and be able to return to work without feeling afraid and anxious.

"Residents are not alone because there are bhabinkamtibmas and babinsa who will always come down to accompany residents in Baban Timur Hamlet, Mulyorejo Village," he said.

Counselor Coordinator Bripka Fitri said the team of counselors from the Jember Police was four people to restore psychological conditions and trauma after the destruction and burning of residents' houses.

"This underlies the need for post-traumatic therapy to provide psychological recovery and relieve anxiety," he said.

He said the team of counselors also motivates residents to be able to return to their activities, and children who live in these locations can move, play and smile again.

The counselor team promoted their actions in different concepts, located in the house of the head of RT 03 which was used as a place for trauma healing therapy activities, namely inviting victim children to play traditional games, tell stories, and sing.

"We make the brothers happy there, invite stories, sing, and play. We even give quiz sessions, for those who can guess the questions get prizes such as books, stationery, and so on," he said.

He explained that the counselor team provided trauma healing with the concept of providing mental strengthening to victims affected by the riots by telling stories, inviting them to express their feelings so that the root of the problem was given a solution and not afraid anymore.

Based on police data, burnings occurred in six different locations from July to August 2022 in two hamlets of Baban Timur Hamlet, Mulyorejo Village, Silo District, causing several houses to be damaged and dozens of vehicles damaged.