This is not my regular blog, this is only sent to NHIDCL director Anshu Manish Khalkho, RVNL, Navyug, ONGC, State PWD, BRO and THDC, Arnold Dix, PMO, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, CM of Tamilnadu. Given X will not allow this detailed guidance, I had to put it in my blog.
Though I am not a medical doctor, we are deeply concerned about this incident, hence we decided to share our limited expertise which could be used to mitigate this situation. I am Srinivas, Founder of Peopleverse, certified in counselling from Johns Hopkins University with Masters in Social work from Chennai and with 23 years of experience in the People management domain across the world.
Putting down these suggestions, given the extensive work we are doing on mental health for employees in various sectors of the industry through our researched cognitive science-designed programs that focus on mitigating anxiety and stress-triggered situational mental health conditions and aftermath.
I am updated on the rescue operations through media, including the latest successful deployment of an Endoscopic camera and the planned wifi installation, and watched the interaction with trapped workers.
These are the suggestions to maintain mental health and to avoid deterioration, wherever possible attaching the research videos/ papers on those topics, these may be discussed with the local health experts before administration;
Oxygen Supply-centred breathing - Given that a 6-inch pipeline is deployed it could make O2 available at a higher level. Our aim is to maintain the Trapped Workers (TW) in the Ventral Vagal state with a neuroception of safety. TW could be taught the technique of super-oxygenated breathing described below to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous system at the ventral or dorsal vagal state. And more for people who are showing symptoms of High functional anxiety (HFA). The heart rate will slowly come down.
'Physiological sigh' technique. This is the fastest way to reduce stress and anxiety.
A locally available psychiatrist who is chaste in the local language could guide them for 3 rounds.
It is done like this:
Two short inhales through the nose
One long exhale through the mouth
Repeat one to 3 times
34th minute of this video demonstration from Dr. Huberman, Stanford University
Note: If the oxygen availability is limited inside the tunnel, this should be administered only to high-stressed TW, in claustrophobic environments as the carbon dioxide levels inside the tunnel will increase.
This technique could also be used by rescue workers and teams outside the tunnel to reduce the ill effects of minimal sleep, for those who suffer from trauma and those who suffer from stress.
We assess if meditation techniques if taught now might not be accepted by the TW group, given their trauma. In Thailand tunnel rescue, the kids knew meditative techniques before, thus making self-application easy.
2. Visualization technique through imagery or auditory; A locally available psychiatrist will know this simple technique and could guide them in their local language.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6176042/
3. Visual Comfort; It will be valuable to keep the tunnel lighting mimicking the natural day environment for the brain to calm down, given to understand electricity is available. Darkness could trigger visual thinking when unable to sleep, thus not allowing the mind to be in a restive state leading to overthinking and anxiety. Avoid blue light.
4. Auditory Comfort; Play calming music flute and veena, they have been researched. This should be played at an acceptable decibel level for a calming effect, given the effects of lack of sound absorption in tunnels. Governmental agencies can reach out to Wynk App or other providers and look for the most played song data by this TW group and play it for them or play religious hymns. Talking in the mother tongue of the TW is important and will reassure them if they are under activation of the Sympathetic nervous system.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8029898/
5. Routine: The TW should be made to have a daily simple routine activity from morning to night to make them defocus from the High trauma-causing triggers. It could be simple things like every 41 of them coming and talking twice daily to the outside team talk about many things other than rescue efforts. Or employ a local teacher who could teach them some simple things. This really works. They could make a request and play a video of their choice ( if you could push a flexi display screen through 6-inch pipe) as the wifi is getting set up.
6. Humour - Studies have shown humour could reduce the levels of anxiety in patients. Playing local audio comedy clips in a fixed routine will mitigate anxiety. Invite celebrities to talk to them about something inspirational.
By doing this, the mental health of the Trapped workers could be maintained. From Peopleverse we are very positive the tunnel rescue will be successful given the availability of experts and we will be happy to provide any support and help when needed.
Regards,
Srinivas
Founder Peopleverse
www.peopleverse.in
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