The Institute of Development Studies and Partner Organisations
Browse

Disaster Preparedness to Reduce Anxiety and Post-Disaster Stress

Download (364.34 kB)
report
posted on 2024-09-05, 21:06 authored by Catherine Grant
This report focuses on disaster mental health preparedness, which is a significant reduction method to protect individuals from detrimental psychological effects arising from disasters. Disasters are stressful events not only for individuals who suffer from personal loss but also for the community at large (Khankeh et al., 2011). During the past two decades, natural hazards have affected more than 3 million families around the world (Roudini et al., 2017). The research of Clay et al. (2014) demonstrated a positive connection between disaster preparedness and mental health, and probability of a mental disorder following disasters is due to an absence of preparedness. Disaster mental health preparedness is focused on in the literature and there are many examples of this. The first section of this report focuses specifically on disaster mental health preparedness. The second section focuses on the available evidence looking at the impact of interventions. The literature suggests that more research and evaluation is required to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of mental health interventions to reduce the impact of disasters. Mental health experts have limitations, especially in relation to insufficient knowledge, and practices concerning mental health preparedness. The third section looks at people with pre-existing disabilities, including mental health conditions. People with disabilities suffer disproportionately and are at greater risk of suffering decreased mental health during disasters, which could perpetuate a cycle of poverty and isolation that is heightened during disasters (IASC, 2007).

Funding

Department for International Development, UK Government

History

Publisher

IDS

Citation

Grant, C. (2018). Disaster preparedness to reduce anxiety and post-disaster stress. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies

Series

K4D Helpdesk Report 501

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

IDS Item Types

Helpdesk

Copyright holder

© DFID - Crown copyright 2018.

Language

en

Project identifier

K4D::238a9fa4-fe4a-4380-996b-995f33607ba0::600

Usage metrics

    K4D

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC