Community psychologist Daniel Ordóñez, from the Sapallanga Mental Health Center and university professor, explained the steps that must be followed to emotionally accompany the eight-year-old minor who lost his left hand due to a pyrotechnician. The specialist pointed out that the first challenge will be for the child to be able to understand and adapt to his new condition. “The first thing we would have to do is address the fact of the child’s acceptance or adaptation, since it is something new for him,” he indicated.
Ordóñez stressed that attention should not focus only on the minor, but also on his immediate environment. “Psychoeducation is important for parents, families, teachers and classmates”held.
The psychologist explained that an emotionally stable mother will be key to the recovery process: “If she doesn’t accept what happened either, it will be complicated. There is no need to look for blame or dig into the past.”. Likewise, he recommended working with the classroom and with other students to reinforce the inclusion approach when the child returns to class.
The specialist warned that, without professional support, symptoms such as anxiety, stress or even childhood depression could appear. For this reason, it suggests therapies with a playful approach that facilitate communication and understanding in children. He also explained that it is possible for the minor to experience “phantom limb syndrome”. “It is common to feel itching, tingling or pain. For this, therapies, relaxation techniques and thought blocking techniques are also used”he explained.
Ordóñez pointed out that a prosthesis could contribute to the adaptation process, although it is not the only determining factor. “That would help a lot more, but it will depend a lot on the child’s resilience and their level of coping.”he stated.
