Oberlin Shansi Visiting Scholar, Novita Sari, is a Psychology professor from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. She has spent the spring semester here at Oberlin. This presentation will focus on how the role of religion in supporting tsunami and armed conflict survivors in Aceh, Indonesia, underscores its importance for mental health. One effective coping strategy for addressing mental health issues resulting from post tsunami and armed conflict trauma is the engagement in religious practices, such as worship and prayer, to achieve psychological equilibrium. These religious activities play a crucial role during the post-disaster phase, offering survivors significant benefits. They experience a sense of tranquility and renewed motivation to face life after the disaster, along with alleviation of trauma associated with the tsunami and armed conflict. Additionally, survivors gain increased awareness of virtuous actions to embrace and vices to avoid throughout their lives.
Open to all members of the Oberlin campus community
