J Korean Med Assoc.  2014 Dec;57(12):1008-1013. 10.5124/jkma.2014.57.12.1008.

Behavioral health in disaster

• Lee BC

• KMID: 1736629
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2014.57.12.1008

Abstract

The importance of behavioral health after disaster must not overlooked when responding to an event. After disaster, victims experience various difficulties, which responders must keep in mind. They may frighten and confused to cooperate properly with assistance. Persistent distorted blame of self or others for the cause and result of the event is common while different degrees. Behavioral health, which major role is to relieve peoples suffering, also could help cooperation of rescues and accelerate fast recovery after the trauma. Distress of disaster victim could be presented with somatic complaints. Sudden increase of nonspecific physical complaint could be result of somatization of mental stress, which is often observed in disaster victims. After 'Sewol ship sunk' there were lots of need for behavioral health. We now know that how disastrous it could be and how desperate it would be while considering issues of peoples in need for psychological support after disaster. Not to end up in this hopeless situation, it is time to think about how to establish persistent framework to help disaster victims hidden overwhelming sufferings.

Keyword

Disasters; Disaster psychiatry; Sewol

MeSH Terms

Disaster Victims
Disasters*
Ships

Reference

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