Skip to main content

Natural Disaster

From Individual-Focused to Community-Based Psychosocial Work

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Mental Health and Social Work

Part of the book series: Social Work ((SOWO))

  • 224 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview on the current development of psychosocial work in disaster contexts. It expands the focus on individuals and pathology to include the family and community, as well as the need to incorporate the need to consider the resources and resilience of individuals, families, and communities. Specific assessment and interventions at different stages of disasters are suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander D (2013) Resilience and disaster risk reduction: an etymological journey. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 13:2707–2716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angi K, Nygaard SG, Lundberg M, Mossegard P, Skoglund GT, Ekelund E, Berggren E (2005) Community based psychosocial services in humanitarian assistance: A facilitator’s guide. Action by Churches Together (ACT) International. Available at: https://www.medbox.org/community-based-psychosocial-services-in-humanitarian-assistance-a-facilitators-guide/download.pdf

  • Arora-Jonsson S (2011) Virtue and vulnerability: discourses on women. Gender Clim Change Global Environ Change 21(2):744–751. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552070215903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett KM (2015) Emotional and personal resilience through life. Government Office of Science, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisson J, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Robert NP (2015) Post-traumatic stress disorder. BMJ 351:h6161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair R (2001) Mental health needs among Cambodian refugees in Utah. Int Soc Work 44(2): 179–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bliss DL, Meehan J (2008) Blueprint for creating a social work-centered disaster relief initiative. J Soc Serv Res 34(3):73–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488370802086401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruneau M, Chang MSE, Eguchi MRT, Lee MGC, O’Rourke MTD, Reinhorn MAM, Shinozuka MMS et al (2003) A framework to quantitatively assess and enhance the seismic resilience of communities. Earthquake Spectra 19(4):733–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke M (1993) The Newcastle lord mayor’s Newcastle earthquake appeal: empowerment via radical social casework. Aust Soc Work 46(1):47–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/03124079308410654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (2008) Educational policy and accreditation standards. Council on Social Work Education, Alexandria

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz JOP, Prewitt AD (2008) Words to action: pictorial contextualization of the IASC guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. Intervention 6(3/4):327–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds S, Nuehring E (1996) A primer for social work research on disaster. J Soc Serv Res 22(1–2):27–56. https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v22n01_03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenreich JH (2001) Coping with disasters: a guidebook to psychosocial intervention. Center for Psychology and Society, State University of New York, Old Westbury

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher JRW et al (2011) Mental health and psychosocial consequences of arm conflict and natural disasters. Int J Soc Psychiatry 57(51):57–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberg E, Friedman J, Gillespie T, Ingwersen N, Pynoos R, Rifai IU (2008) Mental health in Sumatra after the tsunami. Am J Public Health 98:1671–1677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garai J (2016) Gender specific vulnerability in climate change and possible sustainable livelihoods of coastal people. A case from Bangladesh. J Integr Coast Zone Manag 16(1):79–88. https://doi.org/10.5894/rgci656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeff AP, Lawrence J (2011) Indications of resilience factors in families who have lost a home in a shack fire. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 22:210–224. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.1108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern J, Tramontin M (2007) Disaster mental health: Theory and practice. Thomson Brooke/Cole, Belmont, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare I (2004) Defining social work for the 21st century the International Federation of Social Workers’ revised definition of social work. Int Soc Work 47(3):407–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkinson PE, Stewart M (1991) Coping with catastrophe: a handbook of disaster management. Routledge, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) (2009) Psychosocial interventions, a handbook. International Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) (2011) Ten steps to creating safe environments. How organizations and communities can prevent, mitigate and respond to interpersonal violence. Canadian Red Cross. http://www.redcross.ca/crc/documents/3-5-7-1_respected_2011_tensteps_english_c15_proof.pdf

  • IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) (2016) Unseen, unheard, gender-based violence in disasters Asia-Pacific case studies. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Asia Pacific Office, Kuala Lumpur. http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/Gender%20and%20Diversity/GBV%20in%20disasters%20AP%20report%20LR.pdf

  • Ignacio LL, Perlas AP (1995) From victims to survivors: psychosocial intervention in disaster management in Philippines. Int J Ment Health 24(4):3–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2007) IASC guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency setting. IASC, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2010) Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergency. What should protection programme managers know? IASC, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Kam PK (2012) Back to the ‘social’ of social work: reviving the social work profession’s contribution to the promotion of social justice. Int Soc Work 57:723–740. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872812447118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz CL, Pellegrino L, Pandya A, Ng A, Delisi LE (2002) Research on psychiatric outcomes and interventions subsequent to disaster: a review of the literature. Psychiatry Res 110:201–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp SP, Palinkas LA (2015) Strengthening the social response to the human impacts of environmental change, grand challenges for social work initiative. Working paper no. 5. American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. http://aaswsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WP5-with-cover.pdf

  • Kenardy J (2000) The current status of psychological debriefing, it may do more harm than good. Br Med J 321(7268):1032–1033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk S (2005) Mental disorders in the social environment. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnenluecke MK, McKnight B (2017) Community resilience to natural disasters: the role of disaster entrepreneurship. J Enterpr Commun: People Places Global Econ 11(1):166–185. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-01-2015-0005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luthar SS, Cicchetti D, Becker B (2000) The construct of resilience: a critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Dev 71(3):543–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maschi T, Baer J, Turner SG (2011) The psychological goods on clinical social work: a content analysis of the clinical social work and social justice literature. J Soc Work Pract 25(2):233–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2010.544847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masson VL, Lim S, Budimir M, Podboj JS (2016) Working paper, disasters and violence against women and girls: can disasters shake social norms and power relations? Overseas Development Institute, London. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/11113.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2017

  • Math SB, Girimaji SC, Benegal V, Uday Kumar GS, Hamza A, Nagaraja D (2006) Tsunami: psychosocial aspects of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Assessment and intervention in the early phase. Int Rev Psychiatry 18(3):233–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Math SB, John JP, Girimaji SC, Benegal V, Sunny B, Krishnakanth K, Kumar U et al (2008) Comparative study of psychiatric morbidity among the displaced and non-displaced populations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands following the tsunami. Prehosp Disaster Med 23:29–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Math SB, Nirmala MC, Moirangthem S, Kumar NC (2015) Disaster management: mental health perspectives. Indian J Psychol Med 37(3):201–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miley KK, O’Melia MW, DuBois BL (2009) Generalist social work practice: an empowering approach, 6th edn. Allyn and Bacon, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JL (2012) Psychosocial capacity building in response to disasters. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollica RF (1996) Human rights reflections in daily medical practice. Med J 165:594–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollica RF, Cardozo BL, Osofsky HJ, Raphael B, Ager A, Salama P (2004) Mental health in complex emergencies. Lancet 364:2058–2077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NATO (2008) Psychosocial care for people affected by disaster and major incidents: a model for designing, delivering and managing psychosocial services for people involved in major incidents, conflict, disasters and terrorism. North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikku BR (2015) Living through and responding to disasters: multiple roles for social work. Soc Work Educ 34(6):601–606. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2015.1090942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris FH, Stevens SP, Pfefferbaum B, Wyche KF, Pfefferbaum RL (2008) Community resilience as a metaphor, theory, set of capacities, and strategy for disaster readiness. Am J Community Psychol 41:127–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9156-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • North CS (2003) Psychiatric epidemiology of disaster responses. In: Ursano RJ, Norwood AE (eds) Trauma and disaster, responses and management. Review of psychiatry series, vol 22. American Psychiatric Publishing, Arlington, pp 37–62

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell R, Poudyal B, Streel E, Bahgat F, Tol W, Ventevogel P (2012) Who is where, when, doing what: mapping services for mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies. Intervention 10(2):171–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pichet U (2008) Mental health and the psychosocial consequences of natural disasters in Asia. Int Rev Psychiatry (Abingdon, Engl) 20(5):441–444. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540260802397487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pimm SL (1984) The complexity and stability of ecosystems. Nature 307(5949): 321–326. https://www.nature.com/articles/307321a0.pdf. Accessed 29 Dec 2017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pockett R (2006) Learning from each other. Soc Work Health Care 43(2):131–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Psychosocial Working Group (2003) Psychosocial intervention in complex emergencies: a conceptual framework. http://www.forcedmigration.org/psychosocial/papers/Conceptual%20Framework.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2017

  • Pupavac V (2001) Therapeutic governance: psycho-social intervention and trauma risk management. Disasters 25(4):358–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts LW (2002) Informed consent and the capacity for voluntarism. Am J Psychiatr 159:705–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scolobig A, Prior T, Schroter D, Jorin J, Patt A (2015) Towards people-centered approaches for effective disaster risk management: balancing rhetoric with reality. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 12:202–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shultz JM, Forbes D (2014) Psychological first aid; rapid proliferation and the search for evidence. Disaster Health 2(1):3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sim T (2009) Crossing the river stone by stone: developing an expanded school mental health network in post-quake Sichuan. China J Soc Work 2(3):165–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/17525090903211713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sim T (2015) Psychosocial work. In: James DW (ed) International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences, vol 19, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 477–483

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sim T, Dominelli L (2016) When the mountains move: a Chinese post-disaster psychosocial social work model. Qual Soc Work 16:594–611. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325016637912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sim T, Yuen WKA, Chen HQ, Qi HD (2013) Rising to the occasion: China disaster social work. Int Soc Work 56(4):544–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sundet P, Mermelstein J (1997) Predictors of rural community survival after natural disaster. J Soc Serv Res 22(1–2):57–70. https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v22n01_04

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taubman A, Weisz A (2011) Emerging concerns for international social work and disaster response: from relief to development and sustainability. Columbia Soc Work Rev 2:37–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry G (2009) No climate justice without gender justice: an overview of the issues. Gend Dev 17(1):5–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552070802696839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thienkrua W, Cardozo BL, Chakkraband MLS, Guadamuz TE et al (2006) Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among children in tsunami-affected areas in Southern Thailand. JAMA 296(5):549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twigg J (2004) Disaster risk reduction: mitigation and preparedness in development and emergency programming. Humanitarian Practice Network, Number 9, March 2004

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP (2010) Gender and disasters. United Nations Development Programme, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. One United Nations Plaza, New York. http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/crisis%20prevention/disaster/7Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction%20-%20Gender.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2017

  • UNICEF (2009) Psychosocial support of children in emergency. http://www.unicefinemergencies.com/downloads/eresource/docs/MHPSS/Psychosocial%20support%20of%20children%20in%20emergencies.pdf

  • US Department of Veterans Affairs (2013) Veterans health administration. IV 810 Vermen Avenue NW Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker JE (2006) Building from strength: Asset-based community development. Communities and Banking (Winter): 25–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh F (1996) The concept of family resilience: crisis and challenges. Fam Process 35:261–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh F (2007) Traumatic loss and major disasters: strengthening family and community resilience. Fam Process 46(2):207–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2007.00205.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh F (2012) Family resilience, strengths forged through adversity. In: Walsh F (ed) Normal family process, 4th edn. Guilford Press, New York, pp 399–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster SA (1995) Disasters and disaster aid. In: Encyclopedia of social work, vol 1, 19th edn. NASW, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Weingarten K (2004) Witnessing the effects of political violence in families: mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of trauma and clinical interventions. J Marital Fam Ther 30(1):45–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessells MG (2007) Do no harm: challenges in organizing psychosocial support to displaced people in emergency settings. Refuge 25(01):6–14

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2003) Department of mental and substance dependence, mental health in emergencies mental and social aspects of health of populations exposed to extreme stressors. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2005a) Mental health assistance to the populations affected by the Tsunami in Asia. http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/tsunami/en/index1.html

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2005b) Violence and disasters. World Health Organization, Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention, Geneva. http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/violence/violence_disasters.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2017

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2006) The mental health and psychosocial aspects of disaster preparedness. Report of an intercountry meeting, Khao Lak. http://apps.searo.who.int/pds_docs/B0418.pdf

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2012) Assessing mental health and psychosocial needs and resources. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/76796/9789241548533_eng.pdf;jsessionid=938B185274609CD31205E2B3F9EA97F5?sequence=1

  • Windle G (2011) What is resilience? A review and concept analysis. Rev Clin Gerontol 21(2): 151–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanay U, Benjamin S (2005) The role of social workers in disasters, the Jerusalem experience. Int Soc Work 48(3):263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yong BH, Ford JD, Ruzek JZI, Friedman M, Gusman FD (2008) Disaster mental health services: a guide for clinicians and administrators. National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Palo Alto

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy Sim .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Sim, T., Garai, J. (2019). Natural Disaster. In: Ow, R., Cheong Poon, A. (eds) Mental Health and Social Work. Social Work. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0440-8_14-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0440-8_14-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0440-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0440-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics