This is a public health class

Discussion Board 3 - Week 8

COLLAPSE

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The subpopulation of individuals who suffer from a mental health illness become even more vulnerable during a natural or a man-made disaster. These individuals may also be the cause of man-made disasters, such as the Virginia Tech massacre (2007), the collapse of the World Trade Center after a terrorist attack (2001) and the Charleston Church massacre (2015).1,2,3 Each of these events, as do all man-made disasters, had a devastating impact on the public's health.2 Individuals who have a preexisting mental health illness prior to the disaster taking place are more at risk for their mental health to decline more as an affect. Due to the disasters being a traumatic experience, individuals may experience stress, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder and they may turn to substance abuse to deal with the psychological issues.2 Due to these issues arising within individuals following the disaster, it causes stress on the community relations meaning that as a part of the recovery efforts needs to include the rebuilding of social networks and the health of the overall community.2

 Natural disasters often occur suddenly; leaving little time for planning.2 These place individuals in lower socioeconomic status more at risk of serious injury or death as a result. Individuals within this subpopulation may not have the resources needed to evacuate or to even stay safe while enduring the storm. Individuals that are within the lower socioeconomic class are more likely to live in homes that are more vulnerable to the impact from the disasters, which may also lead to lack of housing access following the storm.4 Hurricane Katrina hit the United States in 2005, named by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the single most catastrophic natural disaster in US history.5 The storm claimed 1,833 lives and the damages totaled 108 billion dollars.5 Studies conducted on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on different socioeconomic statuses showed that 30% of the moderate to severe damage reported was from individuals living in poverty.4

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, take a toll on communities as a whole; and it takes a community to come together following the event to rebuild. "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you are perfectly united in mind and thought." I Corinthians 1:106

 

References

1. Niles NJ. Basics of the US health care system. 3rd ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2014.

2. Shi L, Johnson JA. Novick & Morrow's Public health administration principles for population-based management. 3rd ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2014.

3. Horowitz J, Corasaniti N, Southall A. Nine Killed in Shooting at Black Church in Charleston. New York Times. 2015. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/us/church-attacked-in-charleston-south-carolina.html . Last accessed December 17, 2017.

4. Greater Impact: How Disasters Affect People of Low Socioeconomic Status. SAMHSA. Available at https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/srb-low-ses_2.pdf. Published July 2017. Accessed December 18, 2017.

5. Hurricane Katrina Statistics Fast Facts. CNN. Available at http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/hurricane-katrina-statistics-fast-facts/index.html. Published August 28, 2017. Accessed December 18, 2017.

6. The Holy Bible. The English Standard Version. Available at  https://www.esv.org/ . Last Accessed December 18, 2017.

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