Disaster and Mental Health:A Need for Multi Pronged Approach

Disasters have devastating short and long term psychological, social, economical, developmental, ecological and political impact. Developing countries are more vulnerable to the impact of disasters because of poverty, meager resources, illiteracy, poor infrastructure, lack of trained manpower and poor knowledge of disaster mental health. The people of Jammu and Kashmir in September 2014 witnessed one of the most devastating catastrophes in the history of the state. The destruction around has left the entire society traumatized which undoubtedly increased mental health problems in a significant proportion of those directly affected. In response to traumatized event(s) individuals tend to display various emotional and social instabilities in the form of wide range of emotional and behavioral symptoms including anxiety, irritability, and aggression, hopelessness suicidal ideation, low self-esteem, flash back of stressful event etc. Research evidence of National and international level regarding psychological consequences of disasters has also found the same. Keeping in view the importance of mental health care for disaster affected population, the present study was carried out with the objective to analyse psychological impact of disasters. Using a multi pronged approach this paper further highlighted how family, community, social workers and mental health professionals can play key role in preventing people from carrying the burden of poor mental health throughout their life.