Imagine waking up to find devastation all around you—collapsed buildings, flooded streets, and the lives of your neighbours and yourself turned upside down. Beyond the visible destruction, what invisible scars remain on the lives of the survivors? As mental health professionals, how do we navigate the emotional landscape of those who have endured disaster-related trauma? This article explores the latest research and treatment strategies to support the therapeutic journey of those who believe they have lost everything.
A natural disaster is a catastrophic event caused by natural forces: (earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, or wildfires) that significantly damages the environment and communities’ infrastructure. These calamities go beyond physical destruction, representing a profound crisis for human lives. Every catastrophe produces trauma, loss of property, and even death, which in turn cause survivors long-term psychological distress (Saeed and Gargano, 2022). A disaster’s consequences can be life-altering, as the disaster itself leads to the development of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The impacts and needs of survivors vary in scope depending on the nature of the event, the extent of personal or family loss, and other intersecting factors such as age, race, religion, and gender.
Mental Health Interventions Following Disasters: The Impact
Heanoy and Brown (2024) explain that the level of psychological distress tends to align with an individual’s experience of disaster-related changes. For instance, people who lose their homes or jobs are far more likely to face severe mental health challenges than those experiencing less disruption. Age is another crucial factor; research indicates that children exposed to natural disasters face a higher risk of developing PTSD, psychosomatic symptoms, and behavioral issues, leaving a lasting impact on their development. Disasters affect young people the most; although positive responses are common, several children and teenagers tend to face chronic and delayed responses to trauma. The majority of the active processes of maladaptation appear to occur within the first twelve months after the disaster (Witt et al., 2024).
Coping motivations are dynamic and can vary significantly among individuals (Şahi and Okan, 2024), but when working with survivors, it is critical to address not only the initial effects of the trauma but also the ongoing stressors and personal factors that may affect their willingness to seek help. Crompton et al. (2024) emphasize the importance of assessing factors such as disaster experience, personal and property losses, and other ongoing stressors like insurance claims. When it comes to the aftermath of a disaster, resilience plays an impactful role in mitigating the mental health implications of ongoing stressors.
Mental Health Interventions Following Disasters: The Rebuilding Process
Trauma and emotional distress are not caused solely by the event itself but also by its consequences and the challenging process of rebuilding life afterward. One factor that can help manage the impact and minimise the development of long-lasting symptoms is prompt care and intervention. However, one of the critical challenges in post-disaster mental health care is ensuring that survivors not only seek help but also establish trust in treatment programs and mental health professionals.
A multitude of things factors shapes the decision to procure mental health support after a catastrophe, be it natural or man-made. According to Crompton et al. (2024), participation in mental health programs after natural disasters can be estimated based on five foremost determining factors. People who believe that they are in some sort of life-threatening situation tend to be more responsive towards psychological aid. Similarly, individuals who identify as self-sufficient may perceive themselves as resilient enough and, therefore, be less inclined towards seeking assistance. The extent of property damage and financial loss also plays a role, as significant material losses often lead to heightened distress and a greater likelihood of reaching out for support. Furthermore, ongoing and dragged-out interactions with insurance companies can be a source of chronic stress, thus increasing the need for mental health support.
Mental Health Interventions Following Disasters: Providing Effective Support
Effective mental health interventions in disaster situations have to focus on promoting safety, hope, positive attitudes, and social engagement (Saeed & Gargano, 2022). Okan and Şahin (2024) developed the Post-disaster Spiritual Coping Scale, which identifies five dimensions that facilitate individuals to return to normal life after a traumatic experience: spiritual values, hope, friend support, solidarity, and family support. These factors reveal the importance social and spiritual dimensions have on recovery and mental well-being. Play therapy is an effective intervention that can be used among young children and their parents (Nilsson et al., 2024). A sensitive approach provides a safe and supportive environment for children to process their experiences and emotions.
The type and level of support provided may vary depending on the disaster intensity. High-risk populations should be evaluated right after the event, as well as three, six, and twelve months later as their needs change (Witt et al., 2024). The therapist’s role in the initial stages may comprise psychoeducation; it is essential to provide a sense of safety and structure within the community. During this phase, offering routine and emotional support can go a long way to lessen the damaging psychological factor. When the condition improves, more comprehensive clinical interventions can be applied to address the specific requirements of the children and family. By combining immediate psychological first aid and prolonged treatment thoughtfully, therapists can help people slowly regain their feeling of control over their lives and normalcy after the disaster.
It is very important to understand the nature of mental health care being delivered after a catastrophe from a psychological practice perspective. Mental health services often have limited resources after a disaster, so resources need to be allocated in a careful manner. Mental health interventions should be individualised and tailored to each person's needs, considering specific factors like social context, life stage, family, and community impact. By recognizing best practices and using evidence-based practices along with social and spiritual support systems, mental health professionals can provide comprehensive care that meets both the immediate and long-term needs of survivors.
Important Considerations for Mental Health Professionals and Practitioners
Some recommended practices that can assist individuals and communities more effectively toward recovery are:
- Use Evidence-Based Interventions with an emotional approach: Interventions should focus on feelings of safety, hope, and increased social ties. For children, use toys as therapeutic tools to make it easier for children to process trauma-related emotions and foster resilience.
- Address Ongoing Stressors: Take note of stressors such as finances, housing, or insurance claims that may further erode mental well-being. They may not be overwhelming, but they could pose an annoying obstacle to integration. If it is possible, recommend or offer integration assistance as part of therapy.
- Adapt to Phases of Disaster Response: Survivors’ needs change over time. Do not rush their process, post-initial crisis, emphasis should be placed on community psychoeducation, and later, as the situation settles, individualised clinical interventions can be introduced.
- Strengthen Resilience and Coping Strategies: Have clients list their strengths or social support systems, which include at least spiritual values or hope. When aiding survivors of disasters, assess more than the symptomatic distress and seek to assess their level of resilience.
- Collaborate with Communities: Engage community leadership, schools, and other organizations to devise an integrated support system. In advanced cases, integrating mental health interventions has a greater impact and helps survivors feel more cohesive.
- Prioritize Self-Care and Professional Boundaries: Post-disaster environments can be emotionally draining. Ensure self-care, peer support, and appropriate supervision are accounted for so personal well-being does not get sacrificed while aiding others.
References:
- Crompton, D., Kohleis, P., Shakespeare-Finch, J., FitzGerald, G., & Young, R. (2024). Predicting participation in a post-disaster mental health program. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18, e271. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.168
- Saeed, S. A., & Gargano, S. P. (2022). Natural disasters and mental health. International Review of Psychiatry, 34(1), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2022.2037524
- Heanoy, E. Z., & Brown, N. R. (2024). Impact of natural disasters on mental health: Evidence and implications. Healthcare, 12(1812). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181812
- Şahi, N. Y., & Okan, N. (2024). Development of a scale examining post-disaster coping motivations in Turkey after the 6 February earthquake. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 33(2), e2031. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.2031
- Nilsson, N., Hadiprodjo, N., & Parson, J. (2024). The role of the play therapist in supporting children and families following a natural disaster: A scoping review. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(5), 877-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13186
- Witt, A., Sachser, C., & Fegert, J. M. (2024). Scoping review on trauma and recovery in youth after natural disasters: What Europe can learn from natural disasters around the world. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(3), 651-665. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-01983-y
