1
|
Korndörffer L, White C, Mackelprang JL. Psychological First Aid principles within a community-led arts initiative: lessons from the Blacksmiths' Tree. DISASTERS 2023; 47:806-829. [PMID: 36208417 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is widely used in the early phases of disaster recovery, despite limited empirical evidence supporting its application. PFA aims to reduce distress and encourage adaptive coping and is grounded in five principles: the promotion of hope, self- and collective efficacy, social connectedness, safety, and calm. Drawing on a constructivist perspective, this study analysed interview transcripts from Forged from Fire: The Making of the Blacksmiths' Tree, a documentary film about a community-led arts project initiated after the 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia. Using a reflexive process that employed deductive and inductive coding, the research investigated the presence of PFA principles in participants' experiences of the Blacksmiths' Tree project and whether themes not accounted for by PFA were also salient. The findings supported the PFA principles and generated two additional themes: grassroots and community leadership; and healing through creation and expression. The implications for disaster recovery in community settings are also presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilith Korndörffer
- Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) Student, Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
- Bushfire Recovery Practitioner, Victorian Department of Education, Australia
| | - Carolynne White
- Participation and Co-design Manager, Mind Australia
- Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
| | - Jessica L Mackelprang
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bryant RA. Attachment processes in posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of mechanisms to advance theories and treatments. Clin Psychol Rev 2023; 99:102228. [PMID: 36493729 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Current conceptualisations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are driven by biological, learning, and cognitive models that have shaped current treatments of the disorder. The strong influence of these models has resulted in a relative neglect of social mechanisms that can influence traumatic stress. There is abundant evidence from experimental, observational, and clinical studies that social factors can moderate many of the mechanisms articulated in prevailing models of PTSD. In this review it is proposed that attachment theory provides a useful framework to complement existing models of PTSD because it provides explanatory value for social factors can interact with biological, learning, and cognitive processes that shape traumatic stress response. The review provides an overview of attachment theory in the context of traumatic stress, outlines the evidence for how attachment factors can moderate stress responses and PTSD, and considers how harnessing attachment processes may augment recovery from and treatment of PTSD. This review emphasizes that rather than conceptualizing attachment theory as an independent theory of traumatic stress, there is much to gain by integrating attachment mechanisms into existing models of PTSD to accommodate the interactions between cognitive, biological, and attachment processes.
Collapse
|
3
|
Balasooriya NN, Bandara JS, Rohde N. Air pollution and health outcomes: Evidence from Black Saturday Bushfires in Australia. Soc Sci Med 2022; 306:115165. [PMID: 35767903 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents new evidence of the causal effect of air pollution on Australian health outcomes, using the Black Saturday bushfires (BSB) in 2009 as a natural experiment. This event was one of the largest bushfires in Australian history and emitted approximately four million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. We use data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamic Australia (HILDA) panel and compare the health status of individuals who were living in affected and unaffected regions before and after the event. Using a triple differences procedure, we further examine whether a difference in vulnerability to bushfire smoke exists comparing people living in urban or regional areas. We find that ambient air pollution had significant negative effects on health and that the magnitudes were actually larger for individuals residing in urban areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Namal N Balasooriya
- Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Department of Social Statistics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
| | - Jayatilleke S Bandara
- Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Nicholas Rohde
- Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thériault L, Belleville G, Ouellet MC, Morin CM. The Experience and Perceived Consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray Fires and Evacuation. Front Public Health 2021; 9:641151. [PMID: 34858911 PMCID: PMC8632018 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.641151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have examined the scope of the subjective experience during and after a natural disaster. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of persons affected by the wildfires and evacuation of Fort McMurray in 2016. The objectives were to document (1) the experience of the evacuation, and (2) the biopsychosocial consequences of the wildfires as perceived by evacuees from Fort McMurray 3 months and 3 years after evacuation. This study included two data collections, one from 393 evacuees 3 months after evacuation using an online questionnaire, and the other from 31 participants (among those who participated in the 3-month evaluation) interviewed by telephone 3 years after evacuation. Eight themes describing the evacuation experience emerged from the qualitative analysis: the preparation for evacuation, the perceived traumatic nature of the evacuation, problems encountered while on the move, assistance received and provided, vulnerability conditions, presence of physical discomfort, relocation and no problem/no response. Seven categories of negative consequences emerged: material and financial loss, emotional/mental health disorders, cognitive impairments, behavioral changes, spiritual/existential reflections, social alterations, and physical conditions. Four categories of positive consequences emerged: posttraumatic growth, resilience/absence of consequences, altruism and community cohesion. This study showed a wide range of perceived consequences of fires and evacuations by Fort McMurray residents. The results highlight the importance of tailoring responses to the needs of evacuees and providing assistance to victims over a long period of time.
Collapse
|
5
|
The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11090126. [PMID: 34562964 PMCID: PMC8466569 DOI: 10.3390/bs11090126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the many consequences of climate change is an increase in the frequency, severity, and, thus, impact of wildfires across the globe. The destruction and loss of one's home, belongings, and surrounding community, and the threat to personal safety and the safety of loved ones can have significant consequences on survivors' mental health, which persist for years after. The objective of this scoping review was to identify primary studies examining the impact of wildfires on mental health and to summarize findings for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use. Literature searches on Pubmed and Embase were conducted in February and April of 2021, respectively, with no date restrictions. A total of 254 studies were found in the two database searches, with 60 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Three other studies were identified and included based on relevant in-text citations during data abstraction. The results show an increased rate of PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety at several times of follow-up post-wildfire, from the subacute phase, to years after. An increased rate of mental health disorders post-wildfire has been found in both the adult and pediatric population, with a number of associated risk factors, the most significant being characteristics of the wildfire trauma itself. Several new terms have arisen in the literature secondary to an increased awareness and understanding of the impact of natural disasters on mental health, including ecological grief, solastalgia, and eco-anxiety. There are a number of patient factors and systemic changes that have been identified post-wildfire that can contribute to resilience and recovery.
Collapse
|
6
|
Lim BH, Hodges MA, Lilly MM. The Differential Effects of Insecure Attachment on Post-Traumatic Stress: A Systematic Review of Extant Findings and Explanatory Mechanisms. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2020; 21:1044-1060. [PMID: 30599805 DOI: 10.1177/1524838018815136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
It is well-documented that insecure attachment poses substantial risks to post-trauma recovery. Although attachment anxiety reliably predicts and is associated with elevated post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), the attachment avoidance-PTSS link has been far less consistent. This suggests both attenuating and enhancing connections between attachment difficulties and post-trauma outcomes. The goal of this study is 2-fold: (a) to review and summarize extant evidence concerning the relation between insecure attachment and PTSS and (b) to review mechanism(s) underlying attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance that may explain the development of PTSS. Following a systematic review of the empirical literature investigating attachment, trauma, and post-trauma reactions, a total of 138 studies were identified and summarized. The review further identifies explanatory mechanisms underlying the association between insecure attachment and PTSS, including stress appraisals, cognitive factors, self-esteem, emotion regulation strategies, social factors, and trauma-specific factors (i.e., type of trauma, extreme stress). Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ban Hong Lim
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hospital Operation During a Disaster - Hospital Multi-Component Emergency Center (HMCEC). Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 15:92-98. [PMID: 32157983 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2019.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A hospital's operating modes can be divided into three main levels of operation: routine, mass-casualty, and interim states that require procedures and resources beyond the routine capacity.Regardless of the nature of the event and the needs, the medical staff has to be prepared for a sudden increase in demand for service that could overwhelm the functional capacity and safety standards of the hospital.In any sort of an emergency event, the hospital has to fulfill two goals: First is to be able to sustain itself against the sudden rise in demand for medical support; the aid given depends on the nature of the disaster. The second goal is to continue supporting the essential routine duties for patients already hospitalized and for others arriving at the hospital regardless of the disaster.The aim of this paper is to describe the principles and the methods for hospital operation in case of a disaster-level event. The paper describes the structure and methods for handling prolonged disaster-level events and the adjustments that can be made in the case of lower intensity events.
Collapse
|
8
|
Newnham EA, Gao X, Tearne J, Guragain B, Jiao F, Ghimire L, Chan EY, Leaning J. Adolescents' perspectives on the psychological effects of natural disasters in China and Nepal. Transcult Psychiatry 2020; 57:197-211. [PMID: 31852386 DOI: 10.1177/1363461519893135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents are disproportionately represented in nations vulnerable to humanitarian crises. The mental health effects of exposure to trauma are significant, but evidence concerning the experience of disaster-affected adolescents in Asia is limited. The current study aimed to investigate expressions of psychological distress and behavioral effects of exposure to natural disasters among adolescents in China and Nepal. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with adolescents, caregivers, teachers and experts in disaster-affected districts of Yunnan Province, China (n = 79), and Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (n = 62). Open coding and thematic content analysis were employed to examine themes within the data. Indicators of distress were categorized in four domains that reflected expressions of anxiety and stress, mood difficulties, somatic complaints, and behavioral changes for adolescent disaster survivors. Differential reports of psychological concerns by gender were evident in Nepal but not China. Post-traumatic growth and strengthened connections between adolescents and their families were described in both settings. The findings complement similar reports from disaster-affected populations globally that have highlighted cross-cultural elements manifest in adolescents' descriptions of distress. Sustainable mental health services that are sensitive to adolescents' experiences of trauma and their unique capabilities will be a necessary component of long-term rehabilitation following disasters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Newnham
- Curtin University.,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.,The University of Western Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emily Yy Chan
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.,Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response, Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kaniasty K. Social support, interpersonal, and community dynamics following disasters caused by natural hazards. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 32:105-109. [PMID: 31445427 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The most essential, and possibly the most reliably present, characteristic of all disasters is that they exert strong impact on social relationships. Two very different, at times conflicting, dynamic processes emerge in their aftermath: the initial outpouring of immense mutual helping and solidarity, followed by a subsequent sense of loss in the quality of interpersonal and community relationships. This review of recent findings in the area of disaster mental health confirmed two major patterns of social support dynamics following disastrous events resulting from natural hazards: a mobilization of received social support and deterioration of perceived social support and sense of community. Social support is a critical resource helping people cope with natural disasters. Its psychologically and socially protective functions for survivors and their communities unfold in a complex matrix of benefits and liabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kaniasty
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA 15705, USA; Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Marshall EM, Frazier PA. Understanding posttrauma reactions within an attachment theory framework. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 25:167-171. [PMID: 30138823 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to review recent research on posttrauma reactions (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms and self-reported posttraumatic growth [PTG]) using attachment theory as a framework. Attachment orientations are significantly related to PTSD symptoms: insecure attachment orientations (particularly attachment anxiety) are positively associated with PTSD symptoms whereas attachment security is negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. Although associations appear to be reciprocal, research typically focuses on insecure attachment orientations predicting PTSD symptoms and the possible mechanisms of those relations, particularly a lack of social support. Some trauma characteristics (e.g., trauma severity) also appear to moderate the association between attachment and PTSD symptoms. Research on attachment orientations and PTG, however, has yielded mixed results. More rigorous methods are needed to better understand the role of attachment orientations in actual growth from pre to post-trauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Marshall
- Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3121, Australia.
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gibbs L, Block K, MacDougall C, Harms L, Baker E, Richardson J, Ireton G, Gallagher HC, Bryant R, Lusher D, Pattison P, Watson J, Gillett J, Pirrone A, Molyneaux R, Sexton-Bruce S, Forbes D. Ethical Use and Impact of Participatory Approaches to Research in Post-Disaster Environments: An Australian Bushfire Case Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:5621609. [PMID: 29992153 PMCID: PMC6016147 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5621609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of Beyond Bushfires, a large, multisite, mixed method study of the psychosocial impacts of major bushfires in Victoria, Australia. A participatory approach was employed throughout the study which was led by a team of academic investigators in partnership with service providers and government representatives and used on-site visits and multiple methods of communication with communities across the state to inform decision-making throughout the study. The ethics and impacts of conducting and adapting the approach within a post-disaster context will be discussed in reference to theories and models of participatory health research. The challenges of balancing local interests with state-wide implications will also be explored in the description of the methods of engagement and the study processes and outcomes. Beyond Bushfires demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating participatory methods in large, post-disaster research studies and achieving rigorous findings and multilevel impacts, while recognising the potential for some of the empowering aspects of the participatory experience to be reduced by the scaled-up approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L. Gibbs
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - K. Block
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - C. MacDougall
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - L. Harms
- Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - E. Baker
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - J. Richardson
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - G. Ireton
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - H. C. Gallagher
- Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - R. Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - D. Lusher
- Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
| | - P. Pattison
- Department of Education, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J. Watson
- North-East Primary Care Partnership, West Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - J. Gillett
- Australian Rotary Health, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
| | - A. Pirrone
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - R. Molyneaux
- Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - S. Sexton-Bruce
- Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - D. Forbes
- Phoenix Australia-Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cherry N, Haynes W. Effects of the Fort McMurray wildfires on the health of evacuated workers: follow-up of 2 cohorts. CMAJ Open 2017; 5:E638-E645. [PMID: 28819065 PMCID: PMC5621945 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20170047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wildfire engulfed Fort McMurray, Alberta on May 3, 2016, leading to a total evacuation. Access to 2 active cohorts allowed us to rapidly assess health effects in those evacuated. METHODS People working in Fort McMurray who had been recruited before the fire for 2 occupational health cohort studies completed a questionnaire (online or via telephone) 3-26 weeks after evacuation. The questionnaire asked about respiratory and mental health and experiences since the fire. RESULTS Of the 129 participants, 109 were in the Fort McMurray area on May 3. Thirty-seven (33.9%) of the participants who were in Fort McMurray on May 3 reported a health condition, including respiratory symptoms (n = 17) and mental ill health (n = 17), immediately after the fire. At follow-up, a mean of 102 days after the fire, 11 participants (10.1%) reported a fire-related health condition, including mental ill health (n = 8) and respiratory symptoms (n = 2). There was no difference before and after the fire in use of alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs or medication. One in 4 participants (32 [24.6%]) had not worked since the fire, and fewer than half (58 [44.6%]) had returned to Fort McMurray. Of the 90 participants evacuated, 15 (16.7%) had scores indicative of moderate or severe anxiety or depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Those evacuated had significantly higher mean anxiety (p = 0.01) and depression (p = 0.04) scores than those not evacuated. Regression modelling showed that anxiety scores were higher for women, with longer time since the fire and with evacuation to a motel. Depression scores were higher for women and with financial loss because of lack of work. INTERPRETATION Although evacuation was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores, persisting ill health was not widespread at early follow-up after the fire. Although these results are encouraging, these "healthy worker" results cannot be generalized to all evacuees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cherry
- Affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine (Cherry, Haynes), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Whitney Haynes
- Affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine (Cherry, Haynes), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| |
Collapse
|