DEDICATION
To all psychologists from India and their families responding to COVID-19 wherever they are.
Acknowledgments
1 Psychologists from India Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Overview
L. S. S. Manickam, Dr. Annie John, M. A. Debora, Dr. Preethi Krishnan and Dr. J. Jasseer
2 Refining Psychological Services and Strategies in India in the wake of COVID-19
S. N. Anindya, M. A. Debora and L. S. S. Manickam
3 Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges of Indian Psychologists
Kalpna and Dr. NovRattan Sharma
4 Socio-Emotional Responses Within and Outside Family Boundaries During COVID-19
Dr. Anagha Lavalekar
5 COVID-19 and Migrant Workers: Clinical Psychologists’ Viewpoints
Asima Mishra and Dr. Neha Sayeed 43
6 Supporting Students and the School Community During a Pandemic
Dr. Annie John
7 Promoting Well-Being and Resilience of Young People During COVID-19: An Initiative with Schools
Dr. Chetna Duggal and Lamia Bagasrawala
8 COVID-19 the Pandemic and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Dr. S. Venkatesan
9 Outbreak of Corona: Gifted Response
Psychologist’s Mind on Missing Beats of an Expatriate Life
Reena Thomas Locked or Unlocked: Two Sides of the Coin Aarzoo
‘The Return of the Repressed’ in COVID-19: The Need for Intervention at Socio-Cultural Inscape
Dr. Paulson V. Veliyannoor
13 Tomato or Tennis Ball? Tips for Coping with Corona Resiliently and Helping Others Psychologically Dr. B.J. Prashantham
14 Self-Talk to Change Your Perceived Reality
Manju Agrawal
15 Role of Psychologists in Dealing with Triple Disaster Situation During COVID-19 Pandemic Dr. Prasanta Kumar Roy
16 Psychological Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: Views of an Indian born Australian Counsellor
Sunita Jitendra Gaud
17 Reclaiming New Horizons: Therapist of 2020 Pandemic Era Dr. Prerna Sharma
Contributions and Challenges of Psychologists 166 in Private Practice in India and their Responses to COVID-19
Dr. Dherandra Kumar
Telepsychotherapy: The Bridge to Continuity in 170 Care and Mental Health Services in COVID-19 and Post Covid Era
Smriti Joshi
An Experiment with Online Group Counseling 182 during COVID-19
D. S. L. Amulya
Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP): 198 Vocal Voice on Local to Global Perspectives of Psychological Services
Dr. NovRattan Sharma
22 Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists 204 (TNACP) Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr. N. Suresh Kumar, S rinivasan Jayaraman and Dr. K. Rangaswamy
23 A Paradigm Shift: Changes, Challenges and 209 Way Forward
S. Divyaprabha, N. Ganesh, S. Kalpana, R. Nandini, S. Bhaskar, R. Suryakumar and Dr. T. R. Uma
24 COVID -19 Pandemic: A Time for Prudent 218 and Ethical Action
L. S. S. Manickam
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The journey of bringing out this book has been very short. It was conceived and realized within a span of a few weeks, thanks to the generosity of the authors and editorial team members who put in extra effort to bring it out, realizing the urgency of the topic. We got several psychologists and students of psychology to respond to the call to write their reflections and reports on how they had responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. I wish to acknowledge my sincere thanks to all the authors who had responded to my invitation and gave their contributions on time, irrespective of their professional engagements in responding to the pandemic. Amidst personal losses, inconvenience during lockdown days and struggle to meet personal demands, each of them took time to write, by sharing their reflections.
Thanks are to Aarzoo, Dr. Anagha Lavalekar, Dr. Annie John, Dr. Chetna Duggal, Ms. Debora Myrtle Anish, Dr. Dherandra Kumar, Ms. Lamia Bagasrawala, Dr. Manju Agrawal, Dr. Paulson V. Veliyannoor, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Roy, Dr. B.J. Prashantham, Ms. Reena Thomas, Ms. Smriti Joshi, Dr. Sujala Watve, M rs. Sunita Jitendra Gaud and Dr. S. Venkatesan who had authored various chapters.
Thanks to Ms. D.S.L. Amulya, Ms. Asima Mishra, Ms. T. Kalpna, Dr. Neha Sayeed, Dr. NovRattan Sharma and Dr. Prerna Sharma for submitting articles in response to the announcement made through different social media and indiacaps.in. I also wish to express my thanks to all the others who had responded but could not be accommodated in this book.
Various national, state and regional level psychology associations were contacted and thanks to Dr. NovRattan Sharma, General Secretary, IAAP; Dr. K. Rangaswamy, Dr. Suresh Kumar and Srinivasan Jayaraman of TNACP and Ms. Saras Bhaskar and colleagues Ms. S. Divyaprabha, Mr. Ganesh Nerur, Ms. Kalpana
Suryakumar, Nandini Raman, R. Suryakumar and Dr. T.R. Uma of CCF who gave their perspectives, record of activities and future plans of their respective associations in responding to the pandemic.
Special thanks to the Editorial team members Dr. Annie John, Ms. M. A. Debora, Dr. Preethi Krishnan and Dr. J. Jasseer for sparing their time and energy to give a better shape to this work as it appears now and for associating to present an overview of this book.
Thanks to Ms. Aarzoo, Ms. M. A. Debora, Dr. Emilda Judy, Dr. Lena Robinson, Dr. Neena David, Dr. Nitha Thomas, and Dr. Preethi Krishnan, for helping me with the review of the articles.
Finally, my sincere thanks to my wife, Helen Joy, daughter Neha and son-in-law Navin. Thanks to Milan, four year old grandson, for letting me to work in his ‘toy room’ during the lockdown days, though occasionally he complained about me not playing with him and ‘advised me’ to take rest instead of ‘working all the time’.
Leister Sam Sudheer Manickam (L. S. S. Manickam)
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Aarzoo holds Masters in Psychology from Panjab University, Chandigarh and M. Phil. Clinical Psychology from Chennai and is working as Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh She has been working in the clinical setting since 2007 and is interested in areas of adult psychiatry; children having an intellectual disability, autism, ADHD, and behavioural problems. She has been supervising and teaching trainees of M.Phil. Clinical Psychology since 2012.
Manju Agrawal is a Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Family Constellation Therapist, a Social Entrepreneur and an Educationist with 38 years of experience. She is the former Director of Mahila Samakhya, UP. She is currently the Professor of Psychology and Dean Student Welfare, Amity University, Lucknow Campus. She is the Chief Architect of the Women’s Policy for UP. She has also conducted more than 125 training programs for more than 4,000 hours in India and abroad. She has partnered in the launch of a platform for psychologists and alternative therapists for holistic healing committed to Mission Mental Health with YouTube Channel by the name of MindSpa. manjua@lko.amity.edu, manju.agrawal@gmail.com
D. S. L. Amulya is a practicing Counseling Psychologist, an alumnus of Montfort College, Bengaluru. She has experience in working with adults of different age groups, through face-to-face as well as online counseling. She is a freelancer at present and her work interests include psychological counseling and building awareness about mental health through workshops/webinars. dslamulya.psr@gmail.com.
S. N. Anindya holds Masters in Psychology from Amity University, Lucknow, and currently in training as a transpersonal therapist from EKAA foundation. She believes in aligning with the inner nature to create harmony within and around by giving expression to all the aspects of the self through art, science and
spirituality, to reach full potential of human life. She is enthusiastic about bringing psychology in the lives of common people through workshops, and is currently preparing to connect with doctors and school teachers to create a collaboration in Rourkela, Odisha. anindyasnag20@gmail.com
Lamia Bagasrawala is a practicing psychotherapist and queer affirmative counsellor. She is the Project Coordinator for School Initiative for Mental Health Advocacy (SIMHA) She is a visiting faculty member at the Department of Psychology at SNDT University, Mumbai and Jyoti Dalal School of Liberal Arts at NMIMS University, Mumbai. She is also on the Board of Studies (Psychology) at Jai Hind College, Mumbai and NMIMS University, Mumbai. She has completed her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from TISS, Mumbai.
Saras Bhaskar is a Counseling Psychologist and Coach. She has more than 30 years of campus, corporate and NGO experience. She practices at Bloom Healthcare in Velachery. She is the co-founder of Chennai Counselors’ Foundation. She has submitted her Doctoral thesis at the University of Madras. She has a Master degree in Counseling and Applied Psychology from St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas and from SIET College, Chennai.
Myrtle Anish Debora, works as an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Clinical Psychologist at the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. She completed her graduate and post graduate study in Psychology from Women’s Christian College, Chennai, and was awarded her M.Phil. in Psychology from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai. She works predominantly in the area of Intellectual Disability and also enjoys teaching post graduates at Stanley Medical College. She was actively involved with the Trauma Counselling team in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami response. She is actively involved with the Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists in providing tele-counselling services for the COVID-19 Pandemic response. debimyrt@gmail.com
S Divyaprabha is a Counseling Psychologist with a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and has more than a decade of
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experience as a School Psychologist. She is a Certified Professional Supervisor. She has submitted her doctoral thesis in psychology and is the Research Wing Coordinator of Chennai Counselors Foundation (CCF).
Chetna Duggal is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has completed her M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore and her Ph.D. from TISS, Mumbai. She is the Project Director and heads the School Initiative for Mental Health Advocacy (SIMHA). She is a practicing psychotherapist and through her initiative RAHBAR she works for training, supervision and professional development of mental health practitioners and supervisors. She is a trustee of Apnishala, an organisation working towards making social-emotional learning accessible to children from underprivileged contexts, and is on the advisory board of Project Mumbai for the mental health initiative. chetna.d@tiss.edu
Sunita Jitendra Gaud, Master of Clinical Psychology from Pune, India in the year 2006 is now a member of Australian Counselling Association. She worked in the position of Sports Psychologist for 5 years at the Army Sports Institute and helped the sportspersons to use their full mental potential in achieving their participation in the World Championships and Olympics. She has been working for the Department of Communities, Australia as a Child Protection Officer for the last 7 years and specialised in a range of fields including Trauma, Relationship Counselling, Family Counselling and Risk Assessment. sunita.gaud2011@gmail.com
J Jasseer is the Associate professor and Head, Department of Psychology, University of Kerala and he did his Masters and PhD. Published 21 research articles and co-author of one book titled ‘Basics of Counselling’. He is the Honorary Director, Center for Geriatric Studies and Psychology Consultancy cell attached to the Department of Psychology, University of Kerala. He had supervised 8 doctoral students, developed and standardized 12 psychological tests. He is registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India as a rehabilitation psychologist. He is also the President of the Kerala Manasasthra Parishath drjasseer@yahoo.co.in
Srinivasan Jayaraman , is M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology and is Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology, SRM University, Chennai. He is Executive Committee Member, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists and Treasurer, Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists. vasanjayaraman@gmail.com
Annie John is Head, Counselling Services, Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore, India. She did her Masters in Psychology from University of Kerala, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore. She was instrumental in developing the systematic assessment tool of learning disability, which was later modified as the NIMHANS battery of Learning Disability. She was the lead in developing IACP Practice guidelines for Learning Disability. She practices as a School Psychologist. mais.annie@gmail.com
Smriti Joshi is a clinical psychologist and certified advanced telemental health professional, with 18 years of experience. She currently leads designing psycho therapeutic interventions for the world’s first mental health chatbot - Wysa and played a key role in developing a text based supportive therapy delivery platform for Wysa users. She was also instrumental in setting up of one of the first online therapy platforms in India and has been on the advisory board of some others. She is a life member of International Society of Mental Health Online (ISMHO), Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) and IACP. smriti009@yahoo.com
T Kalpna has done her Masters in Psychology and M.Phil. from Himachal Pradesh University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the area of Cognition and Personality from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana. She is a member of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP). Her areas of research interest are personality, cognitive psychology, industrial psychology, school psychology, gender psychology and criminal psychology.kashipuni3@gmail.com
Dherandra Kumar is the founder and director of Psyindia (multidisciplinary intervention centre) and LRS World College (RCI Recognized). He is a consultant with Apollo Hospital, Noida, President-Elect of Indian Association of Clinical
Psychologists and Chairperson of Committee on Tele-counselling Practice Guidelines. He was instrumental in setting up the mental health support helpline in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic. He is consulted as an expert by different media organizations such as NDTV, Zee News, India TV, Time, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Femina, Vanita, Child, India Today, Radio Mirchi, Red FM, Radio City and other media dr@psyindia.com www.psyindia.com
N Suresh Kumar did his Masters in Psychology from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai and Ph.D. from Bharathiar University. He is currently working as Asst. Prof cum Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Madurai Medical College, Tamil Nadu. He is the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists and Executive Committee member, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists. He had published several research papers in various National and International journals. nsureshkumarpsy@gmail.com
Preethi Krishnan works as a clinical Psychologist/Counsellor in Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology, Bengaluru, a visiting Professor at Sweekar Academy in Hyderabad, a part-time faculty at Montfort and is also a private practitioner. She was formerly a Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, SRM Medical College, Chennai and Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai. She did her M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS and has a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from Swinburne University, Australia. She had worked with the people who were affected by the Gujarat Earthquake and Tsunami and was also involved in research related to the disasters. She is also a Professional Life Member of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists. p.krishnan2006@gmail.com
Anagha Lavalekar is a passionate traveler in the field of psychology. She has a Masters in Clinical Psychology, and a Doctorate in Social-Educational Psychology aiming at fusion of Eastern and Western viewpoints on quality of life. As a Director at Jnana Prabodhini's Institute of Psychology, Pune, India she is
pursuing the path of positive mental health through different initiatives in profession, and has contributed to the field of research and academics over the last 25 years. She has published more than 30 articles in national and international referenced journals, written books on psychology, edited books on compilation of research and is also a National level awardee for Research in Psychology. anagha.lavalekar@jnanaprabodhini.org
Leister Sam Sudheer Manickam received his Masters in Psychology from University of Kerala, Clinical Psychology training (M.Phil.) from the National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru and Ph.D. from C P University, USA. He is the Professor of Clinical Psychology and Hon. Founder Director of Centre for Applied Psychological Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, India and serves as Director of Training and Research, Mhat, Calicut, India. He also serves in the research committee of the Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy. Lssmanickam@gmail.com
Asima Mishra is currently working as a Clinical Psychologist in Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. She is pursuing Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from CIP under Ranchi University. Her areas of interest include working with children, Adult psychiatry and psychotherapy.
Ganesh Nerur has an M.Sc. in Applied Psychology from Annamalai University. He is a non-practitioner. He is a member of the Advisory Committee and active member of the Chennai Counselors Foundation (CCF). He is a retired IT Professional, having managed and mentored large teams across cadres. He is an avid blogger and studying human behaviour is his passion.
B J Prashantham is Professor of Counselling Psychology and Director, Institute of Human Relations, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore, India, Distinguished Prof. of Coaching Psychology, CFI Graduate School of Coaching, USA and is a world renowned Psychologist with 50 years of professional experience as a trainer and supervisor of many counsellors. He has versatile competencies in areas like corporate coaching, counselling, clinical work, cross-cultural
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psychology, trauma counselling and psycho-neuroimmunology. He is the President of Association for Psychological Counselling (APC), India and author of best-seller book ‘Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counselling which was translated into Tamil, Burmese, and Korean languages. drprashantham@gmail.com
Nandini Raman, is a consultant counselor, a corporate trainer, and a columnist with The Hindu. She did B.A in Psychology and Education from Sophia College, University of Mumbai and did M.Sc. Psychology from University of Madras. She consults at Venkateshwara Hospital, Nandanam and at Saraswathi Vidyalaya and Sri Sankara Vidyashram, Chennai.
K Rangaswamy , President, Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists, Retired and Visiting Professor at Institute of Mental Health, Chennai. Former Dean and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, SARS, Secunderabad. He is a Fellow of Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists. He was formerly editor of Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology and currently the editor of Journal of Psychological Researches.
Prasanta Kumar Roy has done M.Phil. in Medical and Social Psychology from Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi and Ph.D. from University of Calcutta and is working with Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, COE, Kolkata. He is having training in Disaster Mental Health, Clinical Hypnosis, Verbal Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Social Role Valorization. His areas of interest include the Comprehensive System of Rorschach, Mindfulness based intervention, Hypnotherapy, Psychological Trauma Management, Disaster Psychology. He has volunteered in many natural and man-made disasters in India to provide psychological support and training. He is currently a Member of Disaster Mental Health Task Force, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists prasanta.roy@gmail.com
Neha Sayeed is an Associate Professor; Head, Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi,
Jharkhand, India. She is the chief coordinator of suicide prevention helpline which renders help to suicidal individuals round the clock. She has been a gold medalist in Social science and an achiever in her university. Her area of research includes Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, Suicide Prevention, CBT, Adult Psychiatry, Sex Therapy. neha.s.cip@gmail.com
NovRattan Sharma is a Professor at Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Currently, serving as the Secretary of Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP) and the editor of the Journal of Indian Health Psychology. With the experience of 36 years in teaching and research, he has contributed extensively to the psychology discipline by publishing 12 books and approximately 196 papers in national and international Journals. His areas of interest are Personality, Applied positive health, and Counseling Psychology.sharmanr5@gmail.com
Prerna Sharma has done her M.Phil. in clinical psychology and Ph.D. She has drawn her work experience working with institutes like TISS, Mumbai; Medanta, Sangath, Goa; GMCH, Chandigarh and Dr. RML Hospital New Delhi. She is passionate about broadening horizons of mental health for every person. She believes that the future of psychology lies in moving out of the closed spaces of clinics and hospitals and having meaningful collaboration and dialogue with experts from other fields as well as laypersons. She is currently working as a clinical psychologist in the center of excellence in mental health, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi. prernasharma02@gmail.com
R Suryakumar is a Counseling Psychologist and Founder of MANAS Counseling Services, Chennai. He is a Research Scholar, pursuing his PhD from Bharathiar University, Research and Development Centre, Coimbatore. He is the President of TA Study Circle (Madras) and also the Honorary Correspondent of Chinmaya Vidyalaya Anna Nagar, Chennai.
Kalpana Suryakumar is a practicing Counseling Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Guidance & Counseling. She is the Co-Founder of MANAS Counseling Services and the current President of Chennai Counselors’ Foundation. She has specialised in Marital
and Family Counseling and has given several interviews on mental health issues in print and visual media.
Reena Thomas hails from Thrissur, Kerala, India. She did her M. A. and M.Phil. in Psychology from University of Kerala. After M. Phil. in Clinical Psychology from KMC, Manipal in 2002, she started her career as Clinical Psychologist at NIMHANS, Bengaluru and moved to the Department of Clinical Psychology, KMC and served as a faculty member until 2008. Since the last 12 years, she has been part of various health care sectors catering to the mental health needs of people from all over UAE and had multicultural exposure. For the past 3 years, she has been associated with Medeor, Burdubai, Dubai, UAE. a unit of VPS healthcare group. rosethomasp2010@gmail.com
T R Uma is a counselling psychologist and completed her M. Phil in Psychology from the Presidency College, Chennai. She holds her Ph.D. in Neuropsychology (Executive Functions of Children with ADHD) from the University of Madras. She is a visiting consultant in Bloom health care hospital, Velachery and in ‘Be well Hospital’ Chennai.
Paulson V Veliyannoor, CMF , a catholic priest, holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and currently serves as faculty at the Forge Center for Claretian Renewal at Madrid, Spain. He has previously served as assistant professor of psychology at Christ College (now, University), Bengaluru, and founding principal of Saint Claret College, Ziro (Arunachal Pradesh). He is also the founding editor of Artha: Journal of Social Sciences (CU, Bengaluru) and InterViews: An Interdisciplinary Journal in Social Sciences (SCC, Ziro). He may be contacted at: frpaulson@gmail.com
Srinivasan Venkatesan is Professor & Head, Department of Clinical Psychology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, Karnataka. He has authored 27 books, published 150 research articles, and conducted over 300 workshops for various audiences on topics related to children with special needs. A recipient of several awards and accolades including a Gold Medal by a former President of India in 1994, his publications have
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received Google Scholar H-Index of 17, i10-Index of 38 with 19000 views on Academia.edu, ResearchGate Score of 22.49 and 85000 reads. psyconindia@gmail.com
Sujala Watve is Former Secretary of Jnana Prabodhini Samshodhan Sanstha, Pune, India, National Supervisory Psychologist of Mensa India and Advising Psychologist. She initiated and coordinated a one-year ‘Post Graduate Diploma course in Education for the gifted: methods and strategies’, affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University under UGC Innovative. sujala09@gmail.com
PREFACE
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mother earth and every life it supports has highlighted the role and significance of psychology. Urging the public to learn to comply with physical distancing, helping people to cope with their distress during isolation, and the stigma towards those who are identified as positive are some of the challenges faced. After the initial shock of the pandemic, people are slowly getting into a different phase of realization. What emerges next is not known. Preparedness can help to cope with what may come up
The Centre for Applied Psychological Studies (CAPS), Thiruvananthapuram sent out an invitation to the psychology community through the e-groups of psychologists and through social media requesting articles on the major theme, ‘Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges of Indian Psychologists’ on May 15, 2020. To motivate the students and professionals, prizes to the top 3 entries were also offered. The option to write on 14 subthemes was given. CAPS sought any Indian Citizen, living in India or abroad and a psychologist or student of psychology or who has studied psychology to respond. CAPS received 29 submissions and selected 5 of them for publication. In addition, 4 reports of action programs of different national psychological associations in India, Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists, and regional associations Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists and Chennai Counselors Forum are also included. CAPS also invited professionals and experts from different areas of specializations to write on their perspectives in relation to COVID-19 pandemic and 16 responded. Though diverse, one can find an ‘invisible blend’ of thoughts.
Some of the work executed by psychologists in India and their perspectives are made available in the public domain as a document of reference for the upcoming psychologists. I hope that this volume would help those who are researching psychological responses to COVID-19 to get a glimpse of the perspectives.
Leister Sam Sudheer Manickam (L. S. S. Manickam)
PSYCHOLOGISTS FROM INDIA RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN OVERVIEW
This book is the edited work of original articles and views of psychologists and psychological associations in India who have responded to challenges that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic. The book gives an overview of the concerns of professional psychologists in India and their responses, from their individual and organizational capacity, to meet the mental health challenges of different sections of society. It also gives their reflections and aspirations on how the profession of psychology needs to move forward in addressing issues that have emerged during this pandemic and to make sustainable and strategic plans to mitigate them.
S. N. Anindya, M. A. Debora, Dr. L. S. S. Manickam , in their article ‘Refining Psychological Services and Strategies in India in The Wake of COVID-19,’ present national strategies that psychologists of our country need to use while responding to the pandemic directly and what the profession needs to do in the next 5 years. In their wish regarding what psychological associations in India need to do in the next 5 years, they call for role clarity, rethinking on the training of psychologists, streamlining organization from within, standardization and inter collaboration of associations in responding to disasters and calls for a paradigm shift, to align with the values of our cultural context.
In the chapter responding to COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges of Indian Psychologists, Kalpna and Dr. NovRattan Sharma review the psychological and mental health problems faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier virus related epidemics that have been reported from other countries as well as from India. They discuss the mental health consequences of lockdown, quarantine and post quarantine situations and warn of challenges that arise.
Dr. Anagha Lavalekar through her writing on ‘Socio-emotional responses within and outside family boundaries during COVID-19’ takes one to the realities of the COVID-19 that are happening across the different sections of society in India, and highlights the importance of ‘dialogue’ to overcome the fear that sets in.
Asima Mishra and Dr. Neha Sayeed in their article review the existing literature on psychological disturbance relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic along with a review of various articles highlighting the plight of the migrant workers. The articles which were reviewed focused on the psychosocial issues of migrant workers and provide steps that are essential to manage the distress of the people who had to travel long distances to get back to their home states.
Dr. Annie John in her article ‘Supporting Students and the School Community During a Pandemic’ highlights the particular stresses that arise during a pandemic in a school community of students, teachers and parents. School psychologists have a responsibility and are in a unique position to support the community with sessions aimed at improving mental health, advice regarding learning and formulating policies that can be put in place to alleviate the effects of stress.
In the chapter ‘Promoting Well-Being and Resilience of Young People During COVID-19: An Initiative with Schools’, Dr. Chetna Duggal and Lamia Bagasrawala present some of the activities carried out through the School Initiative for Mental Health Advocacy (SIMHA), an initiative of the School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, over a period of two months. The initiative was meant to support and promote children and young people’s mental health and well-being, in collaboration with the school community of school leaders, teachers and counsellors. Webinar series for counsellors working with children and adolescents, web-series for teachers, experiential workshops on self-care and support for counsellors during the pandemic were initiated to achieve the objectives of developing communities of care to build resilience that provide an enriching experience.
Dr. S. Venkatesan, in the article ‘COVID-19: The Pandemic and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ highlights the unique challenges in addressing the acute and long-term needs of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PWIDD) in the context of the ongoing pandemic. Beginning as a personal narrative, critical psychosocial issues related to COVID-19 etiquette, lockdown-quarantine, risks-vulnerabilities, economic and occupational fallouts, and research are highlighted. He has provided a recommended outline for public education on COVID19 and PWIDD, which is a valuable guideline.
Dr. Sujala Watve, in the article, ‘Outbreak of Corona: Gifted Response, writes about tele-education for the Gifted, where the educational needs of gifted children are met during the lockdown, in the comfort of their homes. In addition, a report of initiative of students and the alumni of the school of Jnana Prabodhini who were engaged in service to the needy during this lockdown is also provided.
Reena Thomas, in the article, Psychologist’s Mind on Missing Beats of an Expatriate Life’ writes from her heart on how a psychologist from India, living in a foreign land feels and cares about the ‘motherland’. The realization that one cannot take home all who are living abroad, forcing many to remain wherever they are, gives a feeling of being ‘stranded’. Living in a developed country, she shares the double pain of ‘struggles to balance the economy and contain COVID-19’, amidst several uncertainties which move people into a ‘collective agony and a state of worry’.
Aarzoo , in her article ‘Locked or Unlocked: Two Sides of the Coin’ sees another side of the lockdown and writes about people who wish for an extension of it to spend time with their loved ones. Overcoming the initial barriers of pent-up emotions, suppressed interests, mechanical lifestyles and other unhealthy behaviours she feels that many have started investing and utilizing their time to do things which they wished. The lockdown ‘paused a fast-pacing life uniformly’, on the positive side, it permitted certain segments of people in our country ‘to pause, rethink, rediscover, rejuvenate and repair’ leading to a liberated people.
In the chapter, ‘The Return of The Repressed’ in COVID-19: The Need for Intervention at Socio-Cultural Inscape’ Dr. Paulson V. Veliyannoor, currently living in Spain, amidst people who have initially struggled to contain the pandemic uses a case study of a client who sought psychospiritual help during the pandemic times as symbolic of what may unfold at the macro levels. He brings forth to the conscious level some of the ‘forgotten’ concepts in psychology to understand the current scenario. The ‘Interdividual’ living in a collective society with the prohibition of touch, adapting to virtual reality has to be understood from the critical vulnerability of our context. The current state can stir up within an unbiased psychology professional, several repressed thoughts. The author analyses the possibilities of the return of the repressed in the Indian society and calls for an active and concerted intervention by psychologists and other behavioral scientists at the socio-cultural inscape.
Dr. B. J. Prasantham in his article titled ‘Tomato or Tennis Ball’ Tips for Coping with Corona Resiliently and Helping Others Psychologically, provides his findings of a survey conducted following the pandemic and gives tips for resilience and suggestions for Psychologists to respond to in the current situation. He gives useful tips for those who are worried about the COVID19 and to those professionals who are providing support. His practical 5 R’s can be adapted easily by those who are in the frontline and others alike. Following the tips even partially, he hopes would help people to “bounce like a tennis ball rather than splash, and disintegrate like a tomato on impact of the fall”,
On a positive note, Dr. Manju Agrawal in the chapter ‘Self-Talk to Change Your Perceived Reality’ observes that people living in a happy and positive family environment with good domestic harmony have made constructive use of the available time and seized the multiple advantages and opportunities from the current situation. She suggests a technique of ‘self-talk’, which is basically positive pronouncement or constructive proclamation to the self and narrates the experience of releasing a podcast online which many of her clients found very soothing and calming.
In the chapter, ‘Role of Psychologists in Dealing with Triple Disaster Situation During COVID-19 Pandemic’ Dr. Prasanta Kumar Roy describes that the usual pattern of dealing with disasters by psychologists in India, of providing psychological support days after the disaster, needs to be replaced by active involvement and that it has taken place during the current pandemic. He goes on to state that in some parts of the country, mental health professionals are challenged by ‘triple disasters’ at the same time; including socio-economic disruptions due to the loss of livelihood in all socio-economic strata leading to an increase in mental health issues. When multiple disasters which demand conflicting response measures strike simultaneously, it compounds the challenges mental health professionals face calling for a review and total revamping of conventional methods employed in disaster management.
As a counsellor who has experienced the Indian and Australian scenario, Sunita Jitendra Gaud in the chapter ‘Psychological Response To COVID-19 Pandemic: Views of an Indian Born Australian Counsellor’ suggests measures that can be used to address the challenges that arise. She proposes that we establish support services, emphasise communication about accessing day to day needs and services, and help people rate their personal distress in order to access psychological services. She cautions not to ignore providing recreation activities, taking into consideration the culture that one lives in.
Dr. Prerna Sharma, in her article, ‘Reclaiming New Horizons: Therapist of 2020 Pandemic Era’ gives a personal account of transforming herself from working as a clinical psychologist in hospital set-ups to the role of a therapist at the various quarantine centres of COVID-19 across Delhi. Not many clinical psychologists across the country had to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and meet their clients while responding to this pandemic. Prerna working in high risk situations narrates the professionally enriching and challenging experiences that led to discovering ‘new realities’ in the wake of the current pandemic. She feels that
responding to extraordinary situations requires new ways of relating to clients and is a great challenge.
Dr. Dherandra Kumar in the article ‘Contributions and Challenges of Psychologists in Private Practice in India and their Responses to COVID-19’, writes that mental health professionals in private practice were the first in responding to psychological distress caused by the spread of the virus and the lockdown. Apart from informing their patients that they are reachable over phone, they used social media and addressed the public through free helplines.
Mental health professionals, who predominantly engage in inperson client sessions, are now challenged to use technology as a means of reaching out to those in need. Smriti Joshi suggests using tele-psychotherapy as a means of providing service for the issues posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and also as a preventive measure to instil resilience for what the future holds. In this regard, she goes on to stress the need for guidelines for tele-psychotherapy and to make training in telepsychotherapy essential for postgraduate students of psychology.
Amulya D S L initiated online group counselling during the lockdown period based on perspectives gathered from interviews of professionals running online groups for mental healthcare. The 8 sessions experiment was meant to create a safe and supportive space for clients to work together on self-care goals. She records observations and relevant inferences drawn regarding the potential of creating such therapeutic groups online.
Dr. NovRattan Sharma, in his report ‘Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (IAAP): Vocal Voice on Local to Global Perspectives of Psychological Services’, describes the functioning of the IAAP and how the association has responded to the pandemic. He also narrates the programs that the association wishes to implement in the immediate future
Dr. Suresh Kumar, Srinivasan Jayaraman, Dr. K. Rangaswamy in their article titled ‘Tamil Nadu Association Of Clinical Psychologists (TNACP): Responding To Covid-19 Pandemic,’
report how the association initiated telecounselling for psychological issues and the response from the public. The TNACP launched a series of webinars for continuing professional development, benefitting both students and professionals during the lockdown.
S. Divyaprabha, N. Ganesh, S. Kalpana, R. Nandini, S. Bhaskar, R. Suryakumar and Dr. T. R. Uma in their article on ‘A Paradigm Shift: Changes, Challenges and Way Forward’ describe how COVID-19 has impacted people and calls for a paradigm shift and ease into the ‘new normal’ way of living. It also gives a description of how the Chennai Counselors Foundation (CCF), based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, functions and describes their initiativesbringing out a brochure on wellness tips, a Parenting Manual for COVID-19 free e book and “Let’s talk”, a free tele counseling pan India initiative.
Evaluating the ‘worlds biggest psychological experiment’, Dr. L. S. S. Manickam in his article ‘COVID -19 Pandemic: A Time for Prudent and Ethical Action’ calls for developing national strategies by the psychological associations that can help individual psychologists be heard by policy makers of our country. In the absence of ethical guidelines developed for the psychologists of the country, based on ethical guidelines developed by American Psychological Association, the article calls for psychologists to take steps that are ethical while creatively adjusting to the new normal situation that is emerging.
The articles that are presented in this volume, will help the reader get a perspective on how psychologists in India have responded individually and collectively to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that it provides encouragement to the fraternity, and direction to guide them while formulating action plans in the future.
L.S.S. Manickam, Annie John, M. A. Debora, Preethi Krishnan, J. Jasseer Editorial Team
REFINING PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AND STRATEGIES IN INDIA IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19
ANINDYA S. NAG, M.A. DEBORA, L. S.S. MANICKAM
Introduction
COVID-19, as it is known all over the world has taken a great toll on humanity and continues its unrelenting spree. The corona virus (2019-nCoV), that originated in Wuhan, China, was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) as a variant of influenza on December, 31, 2019. Observing the alarming rate with which it spread and the high mortality rate, what was initially recognized as a flu-like disease was soon declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO on January 31, 2020. In India, the first case was reported in Kerala, in January, 2020 (India Today, 2020). As the spread of the virus continued at an alarming rate, the Government of India and the state governments got into action and kick started measures to contain its spread. The lockdown that was declared on March 24, 2020 has great implications on the behavior of all the people in every walk of life in our country. While it has forced a majority to face the harsh realities of life, it has brought out the creative side of many others. In this article we present the national strategies that psychologists of our country need to take in responding to the pandemic. It also focuses on how the psychology associations can play a proactive role and make use of the opportunity to help the people at large and strengthen the psychology community in India to take on the challenges, in dialogue with the policy makers.
NATIONAL STRATEGIES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN RESPONDING TO COVID-19
The WHO provided guidelines for health workers, team leaders and psychologists for contingency plans along with aids for psychological support in its article published on 18th March 2020 (WHO, 2020). Each member country has already enforced and put
in place the National Action Plans which has implications at the national, sub- national and international levels, but there are still baseline priorities that need active focus.
Coordinated systems and contingency planning
While adapting to COVID-19 changes, the management of psychological health, public health and emergency demands structured plans that are coherent at the local, state and national levels. This in turn demands the national level psychological associations to establish connections globally and respond locally. Internally the associations have to work in coordination with government departments of Home Affairs, Human Resource, Education, Finance, Industry, Travel, Environment, Social Justice, Health and Family Welfare, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Defence. The national level psychology associations in India and regional level associations (Divyaprabha et al., 2020; Kumar, 2020) have taken steps to coordinate with government initiatives. Psychologists and mental health professionals working with institutions or independently can be encouraged to deliver their services and employed in different frontline capabilities of our country once they are trained in COVID-19 contingency strategies. Undoubtedly, it is of prime importance to work closely with the Government of India and the state governments, parliamentarians and policy makers in order to bring this elaborate idea into fruition.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Our country has experienced several natural and man made disasters in the past. During the past two decades we had several major natural disasters that led our country to establish a National Disaster Management Authority, as per the Disaster Management Act (2005). However, our profession does not seem to have taken it seriously and has not made attempts to develop a strategy for national level preparedness by training the people at large in Psychological First Aid (PFA), which psychologists only can take a lead. Disaster psychology or Disaster Management or Trauma Psychology as a specialization is not offered for undergraduate students of psychology. The need for introducing disaster psychology in our psychology training is a necessary take away this
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excellence of the sport. These remarks apply to the circumventing of the old birds—the pursuit of young black game is very tame work. They always rise within easy distance, and fly so steadily that the merest tyro can bring them down; whereas the acuter grouse, after he has been once or twice disturbed, seems to form a very accurate estimate of the nature and purposes of a gun, and endeavours to get out of your way without cultivating a nearer acquaintance.
We are bound to confess that we never shot a ptarmigan; and, judging from Mr Colquhoun’s account of two expeditions which he made in search of that Alpine bird, we have little inclination to follow his example. The ptarmigan, or white grouse, is only found near the summits of the loftiest mountains in Scotland; and, when roused, he has a playful habit of crossing from one peak to another, so that, if you wish to follow him up, you must ascend a second Jungfrau. Now, we have no idea of this kind of elevation; for one would require to be a sort of Giant of the Hartz, able to stride from mountain to mountain, in order to pursue such erratic game. Alpine hares are more to the purpose; and as we believe English sportsmen are not well acquainted with the habits of this animal, which, of late years, has been greatly on the increase in some districts of Scotland, we may perhaps transcribe with advantage the remarks of Mr Colquhoun.
“The white hare inhabits many of our mountains. It is not confined, like the ptarmigan, to the tops of the highest and most inaccessible, but, on the contrary, is often met with on grouse-shooting ranges, where there are few crags or rocks to be seen. I have frequently shot it on flats, between the hills, where it had made its form like the common hare; and, though I have more often moved it in rocky places where it sometimes has its seat a considerable way under a stone I do not think it ever burrows among them, as some suppose; for, although hard pressed, I have never seen it attempt to shelter itself, like a rabbit, in that way. Indeed there would be little occasion for this, as its speed is scarcely inferior to the hares of the wood or plain, and it evidently possesses more cunning. When first started, instead of running heedlessly forward, it makes a few corky bounds, then stops to listen, moving its ears about; and, if the danger is urgent, darts off at full speed, always with the settled purpose of reaching some high hill or craggy ravine. If not pressed, it springs along as if for amusement; but takes care never to give its enemy an advantage by loitering.
“I put up one on the 16th March 1840, when inspecting the heather-burning on my moor, at Leny in Perthshire, which (contrary to their usual practice) kept
watching, and allowed me several times to come within a hundred yards. I was at first surprised, but the explanation soon occurred to me that it had young ones in the heather. I had thus a good opportunity of noticing the commencement of its change of colour. The head was quite grey, and the back nearly so; which parts are the last to lose, as well as the first to put on, the summer dress. I shot one nearly in the same stage, on the 22d November 1839. The only difference was that the whole coat of the former appeared less pure. This is easily accounted for, as in winter the creature, though recovering a fresh accession of hair, loses none of the old, which also becomes white; whereas in spring it casts it all, like other animals. Thus, by a merciful provision, its winter covering is doubly thick; while, at the same time, being the colour of snow, (with which our hills are generally whitened at that time of year,) it can more easily elude its numerous foes. The same remark applies to the ptarmigan.
“During a mild winter, when the ground is free from snow, the white hare invariably chooses the thickest patch of heather it can find, as if aware of its conspicuous appearance; and to beat all the bushy tufts on the side and at the foot of rocky hills at such a time affords the best chance of a shot. The purity or dinginess of its colour is a true criterion of the severity or mildness of the season. If the winter is open, I have always remarked that the back and lower part of the ears retain a shade of the fawn-colour; if, on the contrary, there is much frost and snow, the whole fur of the hare is very bright and silvery, with scarcely a tint of brown. When started from its form, I have constantly observed that it never returns, evidently knowing that its refuge has been discovered. It will sometimes burrow in the snow, in order to scrape for food and avoid the cold wind, as well as for security. These burrows are not easily discovered by an unaccustomed eye; the hare runs round the place several times, which completely puzzles an observer, and then makes a bound over, without leaving any footmark to detect her retreat. It is hollowed out, like a mine, by the hare’s scraping and breath, and the herbage beneath nibbled bare.
“When deer-stalking in Glenartney last autumn, I was quite amazed at the multitude of Alpine hares. They kept starting up on all sides some as lightcoloured as rabbits, and others so dark as to resemble little moving pieces of granite. I could only account for their numbers from the abundance of fine green food, and the absence of sheep; which are as much avoided by hares as by deer, from their dirting the ground with their tarry fleeces.
“An eye-witness, on whom I can depend, gave me a curious account of the tactics of a hill-hare, which completely baffled the tyrant of the rocks. Puss, as is her wont when chased by an eagle, sheltered herself under a stone. The eagle took post at a little distance, and watched long, exactly like a cat waiting for a mouse. Although her fierce foe was out of sight, the hare seemed to have a mesmeric knowledge of his vicinity, for she never would move so far from her hiding-place as to be taken by surprise. Several times she came out to feed, but the moment the eagle rose she was safe again. At last her pursuer got tired, and flew away. The white hare has always a refuge of this kind where eagles haunt.”
We may add that the Alpine hare is now most abundant in some districts of Perthshire, and that it is easily shot, by the sportsman taking post at the outlet of one of the large enclosures of hill pasture, while the ground within is beat. This, of course, is inglorious shooting; but fellows who are not up to the ready use of firearms like it; and we should be inclined to bet that even Mr John Bright would, once out of twenty-five trials, contrive to hit a hare. We shall not rashly predicate the like of his friend Mr Welford, unless the hares were taken sitting; and, even in that case, we have great doubts whether the arch-enemy and would-be extirpator of game would succeed; for we have an idea that he entertains a vague notion that the recoil of a fowling-piece is something absolutely terrific.
By the way, what has become of Welford? It is now several years since we had occasion to notice his work on the game-laws with marked amenity; but, since then, we have lost sight of that Pleiad. Is it possible that he can have been converted to our views, in consequence of his having been graciously permitted by the member for the West Riding to sport over his extensive estates? We hope so, and do not despair to see him ere long upon the mountains with a philabeg girt round his loins. Having begun such a crusade against the feræ naturæ, he ought to consummate it with his own hand. Theseus was supposed to have rid the Peloponnesus of ravening beasts—why should not Welford exterminate the objects of his wrath, and put an end to the ornithology of Great Britain?
So long as moor and loch remain—and it will be a considerable time before the one is thoroughly reclaimed, and the other thoroughly drained, in Scotland—there is little probability that any of the animals native to our country will utterly perish before the exertions of the Manchester gentry. Indeed it is worth while remarking that modern improvement, by replacing the woods, has again brought back to districts the game which for centuries had disappeared. Within our recollection, a roe-deer had never been seen by a living man south of Forth; now they are not uncommon within twelve miles of Edinburgh, and probably will soon spread to the Border, and beyond it. The roe is no great delicacy for the table— though the Germans think otherwise, and dress it with considerable skill—nor might it satisfy the requirements of an aldermanic appetite; but no one who has seen those elegant creatures bounding
through a Highland wood, or stealing out at evening to feed beyond the coppice, can deny the charm which they add to the beauties of our northern landscape. We fairly confess that we never, even in the heyday and excitement of our youth, have shot a roe without experiencing a pang of regret. But roes, according to the views of Welford, must not be allowed to multiply indefinitely; and therefore we have endeavoured at times, when they became too thick, and would persevere in barking the trees, to do our duty. We shall not extract anything from Mr Colquhoun’s chapter upon roe-hunting, which we recommend to the attention of those who may shortly have occasion to try that sport; but we cannot pass over a little Highland picture in which the roe is a prominent figure.
“Day was just breaking when I crossed the river Tulla, on my way to Peter Robertson’s cottage. He was standing before his door, consoling himself for his early start by a pipe of very strong tobacco. The morning was all we could wish calm, grey, and mild. As we passed the banks of the loch, roe-deer were quietly cropping the greensward, which sloped to the water’s edge, and now and then a fine buck would raise his head, and look listlessly over his shoulder, as if wondering what business we had to be so early astir. The blackcock, surrounded by his hens, was crooning his antics on the tops of the knolls, and was answered by the redcock, with many a cheery but eccentric call, from the more distant heights. A male hen-harrier was flitting stealthily above the heather, seeking his breakfast where it could easily be found, with small chance of human company at his morning meal. Now and then an Alpine hare would canter lazily away, or raise herself upon her hind-legs to listen, moving about her inquisitive ears. ”
A perfect and most graphic Highland picture.
To the naturalist, the most puzzling of all questions is to define accurately the limits between instinct and reason, as the terms are commonly understood. We have long ago given up the attempt in absolute despair. Take, for example, the case of the rooks. They can distinguish Sunday from the rest of the week as accurately as any precentor, and are perfectly aware that, on that day, no gun will be levelled at them. You may make demonstrations with a stick if you please, but the rooks will not fly away. They merely retort with a caw of utter scorn. But on Monday morning the Lord of Rookwood is a changed being. He will not on any account let you within a hundred yards of him; and so excessively acute is he, that you would almost
swear he scents the powder in your pocket. So is it with the roes. When wandering unarmed through a Highland wood, you are almost certain to fall in with several of these beautiful creatures, who regard you almost without alarm, and glide slowly into the shaw. They know quite well that you are not there with any murderous design, and they neither fear nor avoid you. Not so if you carry a gun. In that case, you may look long enough about you before you will descry the white spot, which is the distinguishing mark of the roe-deer. They whom you seek are lying close in the brackens, perhaps but a very few yards from you, but they will not stir till you are gone.
Beating for roe is stupid work. We do not see the fun of standing for half the day in a pass waiting for a chance shot, with no other regalement for the ear than the hoarse braying of the beaters, and their everlasting shouts of “Shoo!” A much better method is that of stirring the roe with a foxhound, when he glides from thicket to thicket, in advance of his pursuer, whose clear note indicates his approach, and gives you sufficient warning. But enough on this head.
We have already, in former articles, while reviewing the works of Mr St John and the Stuarts, had occasion to enter pretty fully into the subject of deer-stalking. Therefore we shall not again go over that ground, although tempted to do so by Mr Colquhoun’s admirable chapter devoted to that noble sport, in which he lays down, with great perspicuity, all the rules which ought to be observed by the stalker. To such of our readers as aspire to have their exploits chronicled in the columns of the Inverness Courier, (the best sporting register in Scotland,) we recommend Mr Colquhoun’s book, advising them to study it well before they venture forth into the mountains. It is true that no theory can supply the lack of practice; still, deer-stalking is eminently an art; and there are distinct rules for following it, which must not be disregarded. Mr Colquhoun is more concise than any former writer, and we prefer him, as a guide, to Mr Scrope.
There is a very curious chapter devoted to the chase of the wild goat, which may now be considered among the feræ naturæ of Scotland. They exist in some of the islands of Loch Lomond, and, if we mistake not, on the hills of Ross-shire, near Loch Luichart. Some years ago, there were several wild goats on the tremendous precipices at the entrance of the Bay of Cromarty; but they were
assailed in their fastnesses both from sea and land, and, for aught we know, may have been exterminated. We beg, however, to caution our English friends against firing at every goat they may chance to fall in with in their rambles among the hills. In many parts of the Highlands goats are kept as stock—indeed, it is probable that the kind now considered as wild were originally stragglers from some flock. In the course of two or three generations they have lost all trace of a domestic character, and can neither be claimed nor reclaimed. But it is not safe for sportsmen to exercise their judgment upon this point, without distinct local information, lest, perchance, they should happen to smite down an appropriated Billy in his pride. We have known some awkward mistakes occurring with regard to geese, who had somewhat imprudently exhibited themselves on the bosom of a mountain tarn.
We cannot read the chapter entitled “Crap-na-Gower,” containing an account of an exterminating warfare against the goats on one of the Loch Lomond islands, without wishing that they had been allowed to remain, at whatever injury to the trees. Mr Colquhoun, who always writes as a humane gentleman ought to do, virtually admits that he does not plume himself on the share which he took in that crusade; and there is something very melancholy in the picture which he draws of the death-scene of the last Billy. We can fully understand the feeling which prompts men of an exceedingly tender and sensitive disposition to abstain from field sports altogether. The idea of giving pain to any living creature is to them intolerable; and we believe there are few sportsmen who have not in their own minds experienced occasional misgivings. Abhorring, as we do, all manner of cruelty, it does seem at first sight strange and unnatural, that a person feeling thus, should seek amusement or recreation in depriving living creatures of their existence. But we altogether deny that there is any ferocity in the chase. We are led to it by a natural instinct, powerful in the savage, but which civilisation has no power to obliterate; and that instinct was doubtless given to us, as were the brute creation to man, for wise and useful purposes. Those who argue that there is inhumanity in field sports, seldom reflect on their own inconsistency. Either they must maintain—which none of them do—that wild animals should be allowed to multiply indefinitely, in which case foxes, foumarts, and stoats, would share in the general amnesty, not to mention such an increase in the number of hares as
would annihilate agriculture; or they must, as some of them certainly do, assert their right to cut off a branch of creation from the earth. The argument for field sports lies midway between unrestricted multiplicity and total extermination. Now, surely it is better that a grouse should have its lease of life and enjoyment, and afterwards be swiftly shot down for the use of man, than that there should be no grouse at all. Your modern advocate for total clearance is, in fact, as gross a barbarian as the brute who deliberately sets his foot upon a nest of eggs, for the avowed purpose of preventing so much development of animal existence. He is, in heart at least, a chickmurderer. He opposes himself to the economy of creation; and would, on his own responsibility, make a new arrangement of the zoology of the globe, on principles entirely his own.
It would be a great relief to us if those Homeridæ, who have been screaming satirical panegyrics on Macwheedle beneath our window, for the last hour or two, would withdraw themselves and their minstrelsy. Such canorous vagabonds do a great deal of mischief. The satirified individual, who is, in reality, a very poor creature, suddenly finds himself swelled into importance, by being chaunted ironically in the streets; and is apt to imbibe the notion that he is, after all, a fit and proper person to be returned to Parliament. So far as we have been able to gather the meaning of the words, these effusions seem to be couched in the veriest doggrel; but, for all that, they are emanations from the popular mind, symptomatic of the coming result of the poll, and we so receive them. Against Macwheedle we are ready to lay any manner of odds, for no minstrel’s throat, as yet, has vibrated decidedly in his praise. We hope, however, that the shilling, which we willingly tender, may procure us immunity, for an hour or two, from this hideous irruption of song.
Hitherto we have adverted mainly, for the benefit of those who are untried in the ways of the Moor and the Loch, to the earlier sports of the season; because we are in favour of what Dandie Dinmont termed a “regular entering,” and have no idea of dispensing with principles at the commencement of the sportsman’s career. Old hands know perfectly well what is before them. Such a work as this, which we are reviewing, may possibly confirm some of their theories, or it may reveal to them the cause—especially in winter shooting—of some errors into which they may have inadvertently fallen from too
slight notice of the habits and peculiar sensitiveness of their game. Mr Colquhoun’s observations on this point are peculiarly valuable; for, dwelling on the banks of one of the most beautiful of our Scottish lochs, he has had ample opportunity to study the movements of the aquatic birds which congregate there in the winter season. The reader must not expect to find such narratives of wholesale slaughter among ducks and widgeon as embellish the pages of Colonel Hawker. Punt-shooting is limited to the sea-shores and harbours; and we can readily conceive it to be an exciting occupation for those who are hardy enough to take the mud at midnight, regardless of the state of the thermometer. But duck-shooting, on a Highland loch, partakes more of the nature of stalking, and calls forth in an eminent degree the skill and resources of the hunter.
“Having now equipped our wildfowl shooter, we will again bring him to the shore. His first object should be to see his game without being seen himself, even if they are at too great a distance to show signs of alarm. To effect this he must creep cautiously forward to the first point that will command a view of the shore for some distance; then, taking out his glass, he must reconnoitre it by inches, noticing every tuft of grass or stone, to which wildfowl asleep often bear so close a resemblance, that, except to a very quick eye, assisted by a glass, the difference is not perceptible. If the loch be well-frequented, he will most likely first discover a flock of divers, but must not be in a hurry to pocket his glass, until he has thoroughly inspected the shore, in case some more desirable fowl may be feeding or asleep upon it. I will suppose that he sees some objects that may be wildfowl. Let him then immediately direct his glass to the very margin of the loch, to see if anything is moving there. Should he find it so, he may conclude that it is a flock of either duck, widgeon, or teal; those first perceived resting on the shore, and the others feeding at the water’s edge of course not nearly so conspicuous. If there is no motion at the margin of the loch he must keep his glass fixed, and narrowly watch for some time, when, if what arrested his attention be wildfowl asleep, they will, in all probability, betray themselves by raising a head or flapping a wing.
“He must now take one or two large marks, that he will be sure to know again, as close to the birds as possible; and also another, about two or three hundred yards immediately above, further inland. Having done this, let him take a very wide circle and come round upon his inland mark. He must now walk as if treading upon glass; the least rustle of a bough, or crack of a piece of rotten wood under his feet, may spoil all, especially if the weather be calm. Having got to about one hundred yards from where he supposes the birds to be, he will tell his retriever to lie down; the dog, if well trained, will at once do so, and never move. His master will then crawl forward, until he gets the advantage of a bush or tuft of reeds, and then raise his head by inches to look through it for his other marks. Having seen them, he has
got an idea where the birds are, and will, with the utmost caution, endeavour to catch sight of them. I will suppose him fortunate enough to do so, and that they are perfectly unconscious of his near approach. He must lower his head in the same cautious manner, and look for some refuge at a fair distance from the birds, through which he may fire the deadly sitting shot. After creeping serpent-like to this, he will again raise his head by hair-breadths, and, peeping through the bush or tuft, select the greatest number of birds in line; then drawing back a little, in order that his gun may be just clear of the bush for the second barrel, after having fired the first through it, will take sure aim at his selected victims. Should he unfortunately not find an opening to fire through, the only other alternative is by almost imperceptible degrees to raise his gun to the right of the bush, and close to it; but in doing this the birds are much more likely to see him, and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you are almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your head: more good shots are lost to an experienced hand by a rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for stragglers, and over-anxiety to fire, than in any other way. Having succeeded in getting the sitting shot, the fowl, especially if they have not seen from whence it comes, will rise perpendicularly in the air, and you are not unlikely to have a chance of knocking down a couple more with your second barrel; but if they rise wide, you must select the finest old mallard among them, or whatever suits your fancy. Directly upon hearing the report, your retriever will run to your assistance, and, having secured your cripples, you will reload, and, taking out your glass, reconnoitre again; for though ducks, widgeon, &c., should fly out upon the loch at the report of your gun, yet the diver tribe, if there are only one or two together, are perhaps more likely to be under water than above when you fire: but more of them by and by.
“Another invariable rule, in crawling upon ducks, is always, if possible, to get to leeward of them; for although I am firmly of opinion that they do not wind you like deer, as some suppose, yet their hearing is most acute. I have seen instances of this that I could hardly otherwise have credited. One day I got within about sixty yards of three ducks asleep upon the shore; the wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to them, a thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was quite bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the distant shot through it. In making the attempt, I rustled one of the twigs up went the three heads to the full stretch; but when I had remained quiet for about five minutes, they again placed their bills under their wings. Upon a second trial, the slight noise was unfortunately repeated again the birds raised their heads; but this time they were much longer upon the stretch, and seemed more uneasy. Nothing now remained but to try again: my utmost caution, however, was unavailing the birds rose like rockets. I never hesitate concealing myself to windward of the spot where I expect ducks to pitch, feeling confident that, unless I move, they will not find me out. I have often had them swimming within twenty-five yards of me, when I was waiting for three or four in line, the wind blowing direct from me to them, without perceiving, by any signs, their consciousness of an enemy ’ s vicinity.”
Macwheedle himself, by all that’s impudent! Nay, then, it is full time for us to take our farewell of Mr Colquhoun, and address ourselves to our public duty. We shall meet the honourable candidate in that style of diplomacy which was imparted to us by old Talleyrand, and in which, we flatter ourselves, we have no equal, with the exception, perhaps, of the accomplished Dunshunner. That gay individual is, doubtless, at this moment wooing some bashful constituency—we trust with prospects of better success than attended his last adventure. When the elections are over, we shall lose not a moment in hastening to the Highlands—there, by glen and river, loch, moor, and mountain, to obliterate all memory of the heat and hurry of the hustings; and we hope, before the year is over, to hear from the lips of many of our friends, who are now looking forward with anxiety to their first sporting season, an acknowledgment of the benefit which they have derived from the practical lessons of our author. Now, then, for an interview with the too insinuating Macwheedle.
