Search

This article investigates the current state of disaster mental health research. They look at the presentation, burden, correlates, and treatment of mental disorders following disasters and look at the challenges surrounding those aspects of research. 

The article discusses major psychopathology that is found in populations affected by disasters. They investigate disorders such as PTSD and MDD and pre-disaster risk factors associated with them. They discuss vulnerable groups, such as women and children. They also look at during and post-disaster factors and how they correlate to an increase in mental health disorders. 

This report then discusses current interventions utilized and their effects on the prevalence of mental health issues. An issue they address is that many victims or those suffering do not seek help, making accurate research difficult.

Google scholar shows that this article has been cited 39 times. The articles usually have to do with trauma and psychopathology of post-disaster mental health. 

" we aim to provide an overall picture of what we have learned from decades of research on the presentation, burden, correlates, and treatment of mental disorder following disasters. We also describe challenges to studyingdisaster-relatedpsychopathologyandlimitationsinourcurrentmethodologiesandoffer directions for future research."

"Childrenexposedtodisastersareparticularlyvulnerabletopsychologicalproblems,mostcommonly symptoms of anxiety (e.g., PTSD, panic, phobias) and depression but also acute stress reactionsandadjustmentdisorder(27).Elevatedvulnerabilityamongchildrenmaybeafunctionof their being less equipped to cope with what they have experienced (49)."

"Psychological first aid (PFA) has become the preferred post-disaster intervention, with three goals: Secure survivors’ safety and basic necessities (e.g., food, medical supplies, shelter), which promotes adaptive coping and problem solving; reduce acute stress by addressing post-disaster stressors and providing strategies that may limit stress reactions; and help victims obtain additional resources that may help them cope and regain feelings of control"

I looked up how emergency responders deal with mental health, since the method that was described in this article is no longer recommended. I also investigated the types of disaster that people around the world face each year, besides for weather disasters. Furthermore, I looked at a map of the types of disasters across the globe.

Emily Goldmann, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Research Professor of Global Public Health at the College of Global Public Health. Her work focuses on social and environmental determinants of mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, as well as the mental health consequences of acute health events. She believes that context is important when thinking about mental health conditions and that the causes of mental illnesses are embedded in all aspects of life. She has also worked as an epidemiologist at the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene in the Bureau of Adult Mental Health following Hurricane Sandy. 

Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH is a physician and epidemiologist. He is the Robert A. Knox Professor and Dean at the Boston University School of Public Health. He has served as the Anna Cheskis Gelman and Murray Charles Gelman Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He has also held leadership positions at the University of Michigan and at the New York Academy of Medicine. His interests lie in the social production of health of urban populations, with a focus on the causes of brain disorders such as mood-anxiety disorders and substance abuse. He also works on the consequences of mass trauma worldwide. He has published over 600 scientific journal articles, 50 chapters, and 10 books and has received funding from NIH and CDC. His medical degree is from the University of Toronto, and his graduate degrees are from Harvard and Columbia with an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow. He has held several prestigous leadership positions. 

The main point made about emergency response is the need for debriefing and how crucial that is for first responders as well as victims of trauma. They also highlight that emergency responders are some of the sufferers of mental illness and that debriefing could be a way to reduce that statistic. 

The arguments are supported by many citations of other research and work that has been done on the various topics that are discussed. This involves looking at hard data that has been conclused, as well as qualitative data like risk factors and examples of disasters.

The bibliography shows that many of the resources were papers on mental health issues like PTSD, as well as mental health after specific disasters. From this information, the authors were likely able to find comparisions between mental health trends after disasters, and then how those compare to PTSD trends.

Research using data from previous studies, interviews, and case studies helped the authors produce their claims. A strength to their methods is that they used anecdotes from not only doctors, but patients as well. Statistical data analysis also helped shape the argument about lack of mental health assistance and research. Their own professional capacity and knowledge also helped present their argument and formulate a cohesive, wholesome discussion.

Emily Goldmann is an expert in looking at factors of mental health. She has a masters and PhD in epidemiology, and is a research assistant professor at NYU. Sandro Galea is a physician and epidemiologist. The two have a great deal of experience in health care and in examining how mental health can be improved or worsened by a variety of additional factors.