287632
Mental health concerns in a rural community post-disaster
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Lucy Annang, PhD, MPH,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Bethany Carlos, BS,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Chiwoneso Tinago, MPH,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolin, Columbia, SC
Evangeline Cornelius,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Louisiana Wright Sanders, MBA,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Tina Bevington,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Amy B. Martin, DrPH,
Division of Population Health, James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Sacoby Wilson, MS, PhD,
Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Erik Svendsen, PhD,
Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, and other psychological stressors have been observed in the immediate aftermath of disasters, yet less is known about the long-term effects of a disaster on the mental health of persons in an already vulnerable and stressed community. In 2005, residents of Graniteville, SC were ravaged by a train derailment that killed several residents and leaked approximately 60 tons of chlorine gas into the small community. We present data collected from community residents, healthcare providers (HCPs), and hospital discharge records regarding the mental health impacts on the community seven years post-disaster. Data were triangulated using results collected from three methods: photovoice conducted with community residents in 2012, semi-structured interviews conducted with area HCPs (2012-2013), and secondary data analysis of hospital discharge data from area healthcare facilities. Qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo 10 software. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v20. Community members reported anxiety from the sound of train whistles or the scent of chlorine, depression from the loss of quality of life and resultant physical ailments, and desire to suppress memories of the train disaster. Similar reports were noted from HCPs. Analysis of hospital data comparing pre-disaster and post-disaster discharges resulted in a significant increase in the reports of mental health conditions since the disaster. Mental health concerns should be anticipated both immediately following and in the longer term secondary surge period after disasters. Improving access to mental healthcare services, particularly in communities with limited resources, is an essential element in disaster response efforts.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of technological disasters on mental health in rural communities.
Describe gaps in mental health care services in rural communities.
Keyword(s): Mental Health, Rural Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked as a research team member for this study and have experience working with rural communities to identify community needs. Community-based participatory action research and qualitative research with rural communities are among my scientific interests.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
