Psychological Impacts of Disaster Essay Example

Disasters often cause significant mental stress to the human mind. Studies have shown that both natural disasters and human-made catastrophes can result in psychological damage to victims. These psychological effects include shock, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anger, and depression (Veenema, 2018). Psychological damage can also be short-term or last a more extended period and therefore poses a challenge towards the treatment of disaster patients. The severity of these mental disorders may vary between different demographics even though all patients exposed to disaster events experience one form of mental challenge or another (Schultz, Neria, Allen, & Espinel, 2014). Therefore professionals that provide primary care to patients need to be trained to treat not only the physical damage but also the psychological symptoms that patient's exhibit.

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Patients from a disaster incident require appropriate psychological care as they receive treatment. The first step for a healthcare professional should be to reassure the patient of their safety to decrease stress and feelings of anxiety (Veenema, 2018). Secondly, the healthcare provider should ensure that the patient receives food and other physical comforts such as clothing followed by counseling for the trauma experienced. Additionally, if the patient is in pain, the primary caregiver can administer pain relievers which help to reduce psychological distress. Moreover, patients with chronic or long-term mental issues can be referred to specialists (Schultz, Neria, Allen, & Espinel, 2014). Therefore, if primary caregivers are to provide adequate care to patients, they need to be vigilant of patients need and be readily available to provide care in these situations. Patients should be screened for symptoms that cause continued suffering, the struggle to cope with daily life, usage of drugs or alcohol to cope, and severe psychiatric disorders (Veenema, 2018). The patient's mental health can be monitored for signs of improvement after treatment. However, if symptoms persist primary caregivers can evaluate the patient's condition based on DSM-5 classification of disorders. Patients that exhibit conditions such as PTSD and ASD can be referred to the relevant specialists for treatment.

The aftermath of a disaster usually has disaster victims experiencing feelings of loss, grief, anxiety and even depression (Schultz, Neria, Allen, & Espinel, 2014). Primary care providers are responsible for taking of patients when they are in this psychological state. One of the ways of handling such patients with anxiety is to move them to secure space and reassure them of their safety (Veenema, 2018). Secondly, primary caregivers can offer primary comfort to patients through the provision of primary care such as food, clothing, and access to sanitation. Furthermore, psychological support can be provided through verbal and physical reassurance if necessary.

Additionally, disaster patients may be experience alienation from their families and other people. It is, therefore, essential to provide psychosocial support to such patients through group counseling and reuniting groups such as families (Schultz, Neria, Allen, & Espinel, 2014,). Having disaster patients in a similar section of the hospital and encouraging interactions among them can help to provide a sense of psychological support and community which will help them to better cope with their situation.

Treating minors after disaster occurrences

Children have a unique reaction to disasters that often depends on their stage of development. For example, adolescents will react differently to catastrophes as compared to younger children. Healthcare professionals, therefore, need to treat children differently than adults. Children often experience feelings of worry, grief, depression, guilt, and stress after suffering a disaster (Veenema, 2018).

Further symptoms in children include regressive behavior, increased dependence on parents and in some cases post-traumatic disorder. A healthcare provider must consider the fact that children are at different stages of development and should customize their approach accordingly. Consequently, if appropriate treatment is not given immediately after the disaster children might develop chronic psychological symptoms that could impede their development.

Two main challenges in treating this group are their dependence on guardians and communication barrier due to maturity levels. Children rely on their parents for guidance and reassurance. However, during disasters children can be separated from their guardians or may experience the loss of parents (Veenema, 2018). This separation can cause feelings of anxiety and stress among minors. Therefore, a healthcare professional should take time to reassure the underage patient while also working with first responders to locate the child's parents or guardians. Moreover, if parents are available, then the healthcare professional should allow them proximity to their child during hospitalization to reassure the child.

Secondly, young children are yet to develop maturity regarding their ability to communicate their feelings or experience (Veenema, 2018). This challenge poses a severe impediment to treatment. Therefore, healthcare practitioners should take the time to build trust with the child so that he or she can open up and talk about what they are experiencing. Nurses should listen carefully to children's complaints and act appropriately when they express feelings such as worry, pain or irritation (Council & Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2015). The involvement of parents in treatment can also help the healthcare provider to understand the underage patient so that adequate care can be given.

Apart from the above challenges, other psycho-social factors relate to children after exposure to disasters. Children may exhibit regression, anxiety, distraction during activities and unusual behavior at school after experiencing a catastrophe. Secondly, children rely on their guardians to cope with trauma (Veenema, 2018). This reliance often means that parents who do not deal well after a disaster may transfer their anxiety to their children. Additionally, dysfunctional families that had not established open communication channels cause children to struggle with trauma as they lack channels to express their distress. Therefore, primary health care providers should involve guardians in treatment. Parents can be trained on how to handle their vulnerable. The collaboration with guardians can help healthcare providers to form community interventions that can help minors to cope with trauma (Council & Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2015). The parties mentioned can help to restore normal conditions for the child through minimizing disruptions that are responsible for anxiety. Moreover, the primary health care provider can encourage the child to interact with his or her peers through group counseling. Thus, interventions that take into account psychosocial issues can be useful in treating children.

Conclusion

Disasters pose a serious threat to all individuals due to their sudden nature. Victims of disaster incidents require physical care as well as psychological care. Primary healthcare providers, therefore, need to be trained on the psycho-social issues affecting different age groups and that are as a result of trauma from disasters. Training on counseling can help primary health care providers to assist patients emerging from an accident especially when specialists are unavailable. Moreover, special attention should be given to children as they are the most vulnerable group and require psychological treatment for healthy development.

References

Council, D. P., & Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine. (2015). Ensuring the Health of Children in Disasters. Pediatrics, 136(5), 1407-1417. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-3112

Schultz, M. J., Neria, Y., Allen, A., & Espinel, Z. (2014). Psychological impacts of natural disasters. Encyclopedia of natural hazards, 779-791. Retrieved from Springer, Dordrecht.

Veenema, T. G. (2018). Disaster nursing and emergency preparedness: For chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism and other hazards (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.