“Emotions melt more painlessly, more easily, as we share them.”
Every Wednesday morning the weekly group psychosocial support meeting takes place. A group has been formed consisting of four women residing at the Lesvos Reception and Identification Centre (two are from Congo, one from Cameroon and the fourth woman from Somalia), and the group is facilitated by the psychologist of the Médecins du Monde team.
The atmosphere is characterised by warmth, acceptance, empathy, trust and sharing. The aim is to demonstrate that support starts initially with the individuals themselves, the group itself, the community itself, while the mental health specialist is there to ensure that no sharing is left unattended.
“But how do we define sharing? And how will this group benefit me?”
“Imagine you’re holding an ice cube in your hand. Your hands will freeze and hurt if you wait for the ice cube to melt. However, if you share it with the person next to you, the ice will melt without hurting as much. Could the same be true with emotions?”
Every human emotion is a unique experience. We are there to listen, to help, to support the people who need us. The acceptance and response to our efforts that is reflected in the faces of the people who trust us is the greatest pleasure at the end of another difficult day.
