Disasters can cause significant psychological stress and social disruption. More than half of those exposed develop psychiatric symptoms immediately after a disaster. The degree of social disruption depends on the nature and scope of the disaster and can range from mild anxiety to more severe issues like PTSD. Man-made disasters can be particularly psychologically damaging by creating continual anxiety and exacerbating panic attacks. Common reactions after a disaster include emotional and behavioral changes as well as cognitive and physical symptoms. Special populations like children are also affected and may display symptoms mirroring their parents' stress levels or other issues.

2.  By its nature, it is a very stressful, life-
altering experiences causing psychological
effects and social disruptions.
 It affects every aspect of the life of an
individual, a family, or a community.
 Degree of social disruptions is dependent
on the nature and scope of the disaster.

3.  Degree of social disruption can be
ranged from:
› Mild anxiety and family dysfunction to
separation anxiety, post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), conduct disorder, severe
depression, and suicidal tendencies !
 More than half (54%-60%) exposed develops
psychiatric symptoms immediately after the
disaster. (Austin and Godleski, 1999)

4. Terror or Horror experiences
-happens when one’s own life is threatened or
exposed to disturbing sights
Traumatic bereavement
- happens when beloved friends, family
members die due to disaster, thus resulting in
psychological disturbances.
Disruption of normal living
- most difficult to quantify due to variation of
one disaster to another.

6.  “Man-made disaster”
 Creates an environment of continual anxiety
and can be exacerbated into a full blown
panic attacks.
 Example: October 2001 Anthrax Scare
designed more PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK
rather than physical one.
--More effective WEAPON of TERROR rather than
WEAPON of MASS DESTRUCTION (Wesley, Hyams,
and Bartolomew, 2001).

7.  Causes common psychological factors:
› Horror, anger, or panic
› Magical thinking about virus and microbes
› Fear of invisible agents (fear of contagion)
› Anger at terrorists, government, or both
› Paranoia, social isolation
› Loss of faith in social institutions

8.  In response to Anthrax Scare Incident, American
Psychological Association (APA)
strongly recommends to limit exposure to MEDIA,
as it heightens one’s anxiety and suggests the
following interventions:
› Prevention of group panic
› Careful, rapid medical evaluation and treatment about the
infection and intoxication
› Effective communication
› Management of anger and fear
› Control of symptoms secondary to hyper arousal – such
as giving anxiolytics

10.  Resistance to interventions is the main
barrier in achieving mental health after the
disaster.
 GOALS of mental health interventions:
› To foster and stimulate natural mental healing
process, after the disaster, within the community
› To decrease resistance to treatment among
individuals whose emotional suffering exceeded
natural healing capacity of the group.

11.  EMOTIONAL
› Depression, sadness
› Anger, irritability
› Anxiety, fear
› Despair, loneliness
› Guilt, self-doubt
 BEHAVIORAL
› Sleep problems
› Crying easily
› Hypervigilance
› Isolation or social withdrawal
› Increased conflicts with
family
Common Reactions of Disaster Survivors
 COGNITIVE
› Confusion, disorientation
› Nightmares
› Preoccupation with disaster
› Trouble concentrating
› Difficulty in making decisions
 PHYSICAL
› Fatigue, exhaustion
› Gastrointestinal distress
› Appetite changes
› Worsening of chronic
conditions

13.  HEROIC PHASE – evident high
feeling of saving a life ! Strong
Adrenalin Rush to help people!
 HONEYMOON PHASE – Survivors
are grateful and community pulls
together to cope up with the
disaster.(feeling unified)

14.  DISILLUSIONMENT PHASE –
there’s an apparent depression and
hopelessness, as the reality of how
life has changed after the disaster.
 RECONSTRUCTION PHASE –
intense emotions are now replaced
by sense of acceptance, increasing
independence, and emotional
reinvestment in relationships and
activities of daily life

16.  INFANTS – will sense their parents’
anxiety and fear and will mirror the
parents’ reaction to the disaster.
 PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN – may
exhibit extreme helplessness,
passivity, and lack of responsiveness
to things in the environment.
 Has heightened level of generalized
fear, nightmares and terrors,
excessive crying, and irritability.

17.  SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN – more
mature cognitively and emotionally
but remain vulnerable to stress. May
present classical symptoms of
PTSD, depression and anxiety
disorders.
 ADOLESCENTS – respond to
disaster much same to adults. May
exhibit decline in academic
performance, rebellion at home or
school, and social withdrawal.