Disaster Management - Psychosocial Issues

The long-term effects of natural or manmade disasters on the psychosocial environment are well documented and victims are often offered psychological support in order to acclimate to changes in circumstance as well as address subsequent fears and anxiety.  

But the definition of a victim is under review and studies have shown those affected by disaster are not necessarily confined to those directly involved.

There are three identified classifications of victims: 

1.   primary - those who are directly and personally affected

2.   witnesses - which include emergency response professionals

3.   those who view the devastation from a distance, via television and news coverage 

The third category is a result the media’s constant bombardment of live coverage from disaster stricken locations.  Post-traumatic stress is often found in all three groups and though it is often transitory for those who are not directly involved, some sub-groups are left affected for years after the incident.

Governments and health authorities, such as the US National Institute of Mental Health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Civil Protection Organization of Quebec, have begun to include measures to help reduce the effects suffered by the general public and psychosocial components are now part of their overall emergency response plans.

These measures are deployed in phases to cover the entire psychological process experienced by affected individuals.

The first phase is the preparedness phase.  During this part, steps are taken to ensure proper responses to possible disaster scenarios.  Studies have shown that organisations which are ill prepared often suffer the most severe psychological impact within the population. 

The preparedness phase should include identifying leadership roles, defining communication channels, organising and choreographing response team interventions as well as identifying parts of the population who are most at risk and how to best address their needs during and after a crisis.

The second phase is the response phase.  This is initiated immediately after a disaster has occurred and psychosocial intervention should concentrate on helping people to adjust as smoothly as is possible to the events as well as help minimise negative impact. 

The response phase should also help to preserve and maintain existing social support networks within affected communities.

Inaccurate or contradictory information can exacerbate psychological distress, whereas communication strategies which have one spokesperson relaying developments alongside experts in the field help to minimise anxiety levels.

The final recovery phase should cover any extended period of time beyond the initial disaster for the medium to long term.  Efforts should concentrate on restoring a sense of community and normality.

It is often when victims of disaster come to the full realisation of what they have lost that their needs are greatest.  But paradoxically, it is at this phase when the media begins to lose interest, moving on to more current topics, and emergency response teams are removed from direct intervention roles to resume their normal duties.

This withdrawal often corresponds with the mourning process leaving those who are most affected to deal with long-term despair and post-traumatic stress. 

Therefore, it is critical to plan for this phase, ensuring that resources are available to those groups within the population for whom the passing of the event is just the beginning of their recovery.