MENTAL HEALTH IN THE AFTERMATH OF DISASTERS; PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, TREATMENT APPROACHES AND COPING

Abstract

The February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were reported as one of the biggest disasters in our country. The magnitude of the natural events, the large-scale impact, and its man-made aspect made this disaster a mass trauma that affected almost the entire country. Survivors can experience many different psychological symptoms after disasters, and although Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most frequently reported one, all psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, can be seen. In addition to the individuals who experienced the earthquake, mental problems can be observed in rescue and health workers who go to the region to help. Different methods such as psychological first aid (PFA), psychotherapies, and drugs can be applied from very early to the following months after the disaster. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) can also develop as one of the mechanisms for coping with great suffering in individuals and communities after major traumas. This article will present the psychological effects that develop after major disasters, especially earthquakes, the treatment approaches, and discuss PTG.

Keywords

• Disaster
• earthquake
• mental health
• post traumatic stress disorder
• psychological first aid

AFETLER SONRASINDA RUH SAĞLIĞI; PSİKOLOJİK ETKİLER, TEDAVİ YAKLAŞIMLARI VE BAŞ ETME

Abstract

Altı Şubat Kahramanmaraş depremleri ülkemizdeki en büyük afetlerden biri olmuştur. Depremlerin şiddeti, geniş alana yayılması ve insan kaynaklı boyutunun da olması bu afeti neredeyse tüm ülkeyi etkisi altına alan kitlesel bir travma haline getirmiştir. Afetlerden etkilenen bireyler olaydan sonra birçok farklı psikolojik belirti yaşayabilmekte ve en sık bildirilen tanı Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu (TSSB) olmasına rağmen, depresyon ve anksiyete gibi birçok psikiyatrik bozukluk görülebilmektedir. Afeti yaşayan bireylerin yanı sıra bölgeye yardım için giden kurtarma ve sağlık çalışanlarında da ruhsal sorunlar gözlemlenebilir. Psikolojik ilk yardım (PİY), psikoterapiler, ilaçlar gibi farklı yöntemler afetin çok erken döneminden itibaren sonraki aylara kadar uygulanabilir. Travma sonrası büyüme (TSB), büyük travmalardan sonra bireylerde ve topluluklarda büyük acılarla başa çıkma mekanizmalarından biri olarak gelişebilir. Bu makalede, başta deprem olmak üzere büyük afetler sonrasında gelişen psikolojik etkiler ile tedavi yaklaşımları sunulacak ve TSB anlatılacaktır.

Keywords

• Afet
• deprem
• ruh sağlığı
• travma sonrası stres bozukluğu
• psikolojik ilk yardım

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