Khao Lak

I flew into Bangkok International Airport last October with hopes of meeting child survivors of the tsunami that struck Thailand in December 2004. I wanted to learn about their struggles and the mental health care response to the disaster. How did the children cope? Did they suffer from nightmares or disturbing flashbacks? What type of assistance was offered to them? As a future psychiatrist, how would I be able to contribute to global child mental health efforts? From Bangkok, I traveled to southern Thailand to visit the area most affected. I was advised by the locals to visit Khao Lak village, in particular, because it had been completely washed away by the tsunami.

As the car approached Khao Lak, the rows of newly built wooden homes on stilts slowly came into view. Once I arrived, I was greeted by Thai student volunteers who welcomed me and were eager to talk about the village. I learned that the Moken people, a Thai minority group also known as the Thai Mai people, inhabit Khao Lak. Part of a fishing community, the Thai Mai people lived on the beach in small huts until the tsunami took away their homes and 42 lives.

I was also informed that many international relief workers came to assist with the recovery process after the tsunami. In January, 2005, thanks to relief funds from an non-governmental organization (NGO), 71 new homes were built at a site by the main highway, many kilometers away from the shore. A total of 283 people reside at this new development, 84 of them children. Some of the children who became orphans were either adopted by other families or live at the newly established orphanage, also funded by an NGO.

After receiving permission from the village, I went to meet the children. I found them in an open, shaded area beneath one of the homes on stilts. They were sitting on a large picnic bench and actively drawing with colored pencils and crayons. Wooden posts with colorful drawings on display gave the space the appearance of a children’s classroom one might see in the United States. The art therapist, Ut Ken, another student volunteer, introduced me to the children and kindly served as my translator. Ut Ken explained that they were participating in multiple methods of therapy including art, music (drums) and recreational activities (soccer) staffed by volunteers. They were also receiving lessons on the Thai language.

Upon learning that I was interested in their memories of the tsunami, the children openly shared drawings and stories. They described the huge wave that struck the people on their boats. They also shared memories of people running to the mountains many kilometers away and recalled the many dead human bodies, dead animals, and remnants of their huts floating in the water. One young boy wrote a story about waiting in the trees with his brother for their parents to come find them. Ing, age nine, told me that she used to have nightmares about the tsunami, but the nightmares eventually stopped a few months later. Moa, age ten, lost her mother to the tsunami. As she busily colored her artwork, she revealed that she missed her old village because she missed her mother. She fondly recalled the days when her home was by the shore, and her family was whole.

I tried to understand the children’s stories, yet realize their meaning may have been lost in translation. I have much to learn regarding the care for children following a major natural disaster, and given my lack of experience in disaster psychiatry and child psychiatry, I do not have the background to make a definitive conclusion regarding the children’s well-being. However, based on the narratives that I had the privilege to gather, I felt the community had made significant steps to adjust to their new village and to continue with their daily lives. I was pleasantly surprised by the resilience of the young children. The children enjoyed the various activities led by the volunteers and denied any lingering fears. The drawing activities I observed seemed to provide an emotional outlet. I believe that the strong social bonds inherent to this community, along with the support from international and local resources, helped the people of Khao Lak village to transcend their losses and be hopeful regarding the future. Ing wishes to become a nurse and Moa dreams of becoming an artist.