scholarly journals When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

2021 ◽  
Vol 165 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Koslov ◽  
Alexis Merdjanoff ◽  
Elana Sulakshana ◽  
Eric Klinenberg
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Flood Insurance ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Policy Shifts ◽  
Post Disaster

AbstractAfter a disaster, it is common to equate repopulation and rebuilding with recovery. Numerous studies link post-disaster relocation to adverse social, economic, and health outcomes. However, there is a need to reconsider these relationships in light of accelerating climate change and associated social and policy shifts in the USA, including the rising cost of flood insurance, the challenge of obtaining aid to rebuild, and growing interest in “managed retreat” from places at greatest risk. This article presents data from a survey of individuals who opted either to rebuild in place or relocate with the help of a voluntary home buyout after Hurricane Sandy. Findings show those who lived in buyout-eligible areas and relocated were significantly less likely to report worsened stress than those who rebuilt in place. This suggests access to a government-supported voluntary relocation option may, under certain circumstances, lessen the negative mental health consequences associated with disaster-related housing damage.

scholarly journals A Nosological Exploration of PTSD and Trauma in Disaster Mental Health and Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Carol S. North ◽  
Alina M. Surís ◽  
David E. Pollio
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Medical Illness ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly spread around the world, resulting in massive medical morbidity and mortality and substantial mental health consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an important psychiatric disorder associated with disasters, and many published scientific articles have reported post-traumatic stress syndromes in populations studied for COVID-19 mental health outcomes. American diagnostic criteria for PTSD have evolved across editions of the manual, and the current definition excludes naturally occurring medical illness (such as viral illness) as a qualifying trauma, ruling out this viral pandemic as the basis for a diagnosis of PTSD. This article provides an in-depth nosological consideration of the diagnosis of PTSD and critically examines three essential elements (trauma, exposure, and symptomatic response) of this diagnosis, specifically applying these concepts to the mental health outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current criteria for PTSD are unsatisfying for guiding the response to mental health consequences associated with this pandemic, and suggestions are made for addressing the conceptual diagnostic problems and designing research to resolve diagnostic uncertainties empirically. Options might be to revise the diagnostic criteria or consider categorization of COVID-19-related psychiatric syndromes as non-traumatic stressor-related syndromes or other psychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals Spirituality, religiosity and the mental health consequences of social isolation during Covid-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Lucchetti ◽  
Leonardo Garcia Góes ◽  
Stefani Garbulio Amaral ◽  
Gabriela Terzian Ganadjian ◽  
Isabelle Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Religious Attendance ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Religiosity And Spirituality

Background: Evidence shows that religiosity and spirituality (R/S) are highly used in critical moments of life and that these beliefs are associated with clinical outcomes. However, further studies are needed to assess these beliefs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: To evaluate the use of R/S during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and to investigate the association between R/S and the mental health consequences of social isolation. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in May 2020. Online surveys were carried out assessing sociodemographics, R/S measures, and social isolation characteristics and mental health consequences (hopefulness, fear, worrying and sadness). Adjusted regression models were used. Results: A total of 485 participants were included from all regions of Brazil. There was a high use of religious and spiritual beliefs during the pandemic and this use was associated with better mental health outcomes. Lower levels of worrying were associated with greater private religious activities (OR = 0.466, CI 95%: 0.307–0.706), religious attendance (OR = 0.587, CI 95%: 0.395–0.871), spiritual growth (OR = 0.667, CI 95%: 0.448–0.993) and with an increase in religious activities (OR = 0.660, CI 95%: 0.442–0.986); lower levels of fear were associated with greater private religious activities (OR = 0.632, CI 95%: 0.422–0.949) and spiritual growth (OR = 0.588, CI 95%: 0.392–0.882) and, lower levels of sadness (OR = 0.646, CI 95%: 0.418–0.997) were associated with spiritual growth. Finally, hope was associated with all R/S variables in different degrees (ranging from OR = 1.706 to 3.615). Conclusions: R/S seem to have an important role on the relief of suffering, having an influence on health outcomes and minimizing the consequences of social isolation. These results highlight the importance of public health measures that ensure the continuity of R/S activities during the pandemic and the training of healthcare professionals to address these issues.

Displacement during Hurricane Sandy: The impact on mental health

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD ◽  
Rehana Rasul, MA ◽  
Samantha M. Kerath, MS ◽  
Alexis R. Watson, BS ◽  
Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Illicit Substance ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the effect of displacement due to Hurricane Sandy on mental health outcomes among residents of the greater New York City (NYC) area.Design: Prospective, cross sectional.Setting: NYC area residents, including Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island.Participants: In a 4.25 year period (June 2012 to September 2016), a convenience sample of 1,615 adult residents from the greater NYC area completed validated measures of hurricane exposure (including displacement), perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as indicators of alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Main Outcome Measures: Perceived stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms and alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Results: Multivariable analyses indicated that displaced participants were more likely to have PTSD (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.21, 95%CI: 1.73-2.82), depression (AOR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.05-1.79) and anxiety symptoms (AOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.01-1.67) and had a 1.16 unit increase in perceived stress score (SE = 0.38) compared to nondisplaced participants. Staying with friends/family vs. at a shelter was significantly associated with a 48 percent decreased odds of having PTSD symptoms (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.31-0.88) and of being a current tobacco user (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.92).Conclusions: Displacement is associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly displacement to shelters. Disaster preparedness efforts should involve increasing mental health resources to those who are displaced and providing support services within the shelter setting.

scholarly journals Self-Reported and FEMA Flood Exposure Assessment after Hurricane Sandy: Association with Mental Health Outcomes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e0170965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wil Lieberman-Cribbin ◽  
Bian Liu ◽  
Samantha Schneider ◽  
Rebecca Schwartz ◽  
Emanuela Taioli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Flood Exposure

Chronic Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change Extremes: A Case Study of the Largest Californian Wild Fire

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarita Silveira ◽  
Mariah Kornbluh ◽  
Mathew C. Withers ◽  
Gillian Grennan ◽  
Veerabhadran Ramanathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Resilience Factors

Abstract Background. Weather-related disasters such as droughts and fires as accelerated by climate change have led to substantial growth in interest in impacted health outcomes. While physical health outcomes have been studied in this context, our understanding of climate change impacted mental health is at its infancy. This study focuses on the mental health impacts of the largest Californian wildfire to-date, the Camp Fire of 2018.Methods. We investigated a sample of 780 Californian residents with different degrees of disaster exposure, and measured mental health using clinically valid scales for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); data were collected six months post-exposure to understand sustained chronic impacts. Data were modeled using multiple-regression analyses. Additionally, we included vulnerability and resilience factors in hierarchical regression analyses.Results. Our primary finding is that direct exposure to large scale fires significantly increased the risk for all three mental health disorders, PTSD, MDD and GAD. Indirect exposure, for those who witnessed but did not personally experience the fires, increased the risk for MDD and GAD. Inclusion of vulnerability and resilience factors led to significantly improved prediction of all mental health outcomes. Low socio-economic status, childhood trauma and sleep disturbances were identified as vulnerability factors, while self-reported resilience had a positive effect on mental health. Mindfulness was associated with lower MDD and GAD symptom scores.Conclusion. Overall, our study demonstrates that climate-related extremes such as fires severely impact long-term mental wellbeing. Additionally, pre-existing adverse life events, resilient personality traits and lifestyle factors play an important role in the development of psychopathology after such disasters. Unchecked climate changes of magnitude projected for the latter half of this century risk severely impacting the mental wellbeing of the global population.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing the Mental Health Consequences of Climate Change in Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Hayes ◽  
Peter Berry ◽  
Kristie L. Ebi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Assessment Of Evidence

Climate change is increasing risks to the mental health of Canadians. Impacts from a changing climate may outstrip the ability of Canadians and their health-sustaining institutions to adapt effectively and could increase poor mental health outcomes, particularly amongst those most marginalized in society. A scoping review of literature published during 2000–2017 explored risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities related to climate change and mental health. In this commentary, the authors present a new assessment of evidence from this scoping review and highlight factors that influence the capacity to adapt to the mental health consequences of a changing climate. Findings from this assessment reveal eleven key factors that influence the capacity to adapt: social capital; sense of community; government assistance; access to resources; community preparedness; intersectoral/transdisciplinary collaboration; vulnerability and adaptation assessments; communication and outreach; mental health literacy; and culturally relevant resources. Attention to these factors by Canadian decision makers can support proactive and effective management of the mental health consequences of climate change.

scholarly journals (A135) Preliminary Results of Post-Flooding Impacts on Rural Elderly in Hainan Province, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s38-s38 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.Y.Y. Chan ◽  
C.L.Y. Lin ◽  
P.P.Y. Lee ◽  
I. Zheng ◽  
E.Y.L. Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Hainan Province ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Population ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Post Disaster

BackgroundLimited information is available on the health outcomes of the rural older population in developing countries is affected by disasters. In October 2010, Hainan Province experienced severe flooding following heavy rains. Nearly four million people were affected and many had undergone resettlement. This study investigated the impacts of the flooding on people living in the disaster-affected rural communities. The findings were compared with baseline information collected in 2010 about health issues in rural villages in Hainan. Health outcome comparisons also were made between ethnic groups (Han versus Li).MethodsA two-stage cluster-sampling, cross-sectional post-disaster study was conducted. The entire Hainan Island was categorized into ranks of different severity in rainfall amount and associated damage in October (most severe, intermediate, least severe). The county with the most rainfall and the most severe ranking and the one with least rainfall and the least severe ranking were identified. In each county, one Han and one Li village were chosen by using a computer-generated random number, so four villages were sampled in total. More than 100 individuals ≥ 50 years of age were interviewed by face-to-face survey. Data on disaster-related injuries, socio-demographic information, non-communicable disease, lifestyle, and mental health were collected.ResultsFindings indicated the severity of impact was associated with self-reported health outcomes of older population. Gender and ethnic differences were found in reported health outcomes. Predictors of adverse post-disaster health outcomes in older populations in rural communities were identified.ConclusionsThe results demonstrated significant differences in the impacts of flooding in rural populations. Targeted services and interventions should be planned to address the disparity and meet the physical and mental health needs post-disaster.

A Mixed-Methods Study After Multiple Disasters: September 11, 2001, World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks and Hurricane Sandy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sascha K. Garrey ◽  
Aminotu A. Ogunyemi ◽  
Lisa M. Gargano
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
World Trade ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
World Trade Center ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Trade Center

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to use a mixed-method analysis to investigate the associations between qualitative themes found in written responses and quantitative reported level of stress after Hurricane Sandy. Methods: A survey was conducted among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees 5-12 mo after Hurricane Sandy. This study included 1202 participants who completed the free-response section and answered the question on how stressful their experiences were with Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath. Content analysis was used to generate qualitative data. Mixed-methods analysis was performed using a 1-way analysis of variance test for bivariate comparisons of qualitative thematic codes and the quantitative outcome of mean Sandy stress scores. Results: Seven themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. The themes of lack of information, negative emotional response, and financial stress had higher quantitative mean Sandy stress scores compared with other themes. The theme of patriotism/gratitude had an overall lower quantitative Sandy stress scores than other themes. Conclusions: Qualitative and mixed-methods research on mental health outcomes after a disaster add new depth and findings to the existing literature. Using such methodologies to identify modifiable factors, such as improving communication during a disaster, may confer better mental health outcomes after a disaster.

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