Initial post
First three things to do after a disaster; social psychological recovery
Disasters have psychological effects such as depression as well as anxiety that are the most common ranging from mild to a severe state. Anxiety normally includes the PTSD difficulty in concentrating, sleeping, experiencing chest pain, phobias, and dizziness as well as panic attacks. On the other hand, those suffering from depression experiences sadness, guilty feeling, sleeplessness, energy lack as well as feeling of hopeless and difficulty concentrating.
In that respect, there is a need for immediate support through psychological counseling, residential care for families, children, seniors as well as first responders and group therapy. Further, there is a need for developing relationships with the community as a way of addressing collective emotional issues that would be beneficial to individuals. Finally, communal rituals such as candlelight vigils would be crucial in providing emotional support to victims.
With that consideration, the first three steps in psychological recovery should entail seeking counseling and guidance, developing relationships with others and the community for emotional support and finally acceptance of the situation.
Encouraging neighbors experiencing trauma to use therapeutic programs and services and in the community
In a disaster, victims experience varying psychological challenges in terms of types of experiences and their severity. In that respect, access to support programs and services is crucial for recovery. Thus those without social support or lacking the feelings of being connected to others experience more symptoms and may fail to identify the benefits of support programs while they are in the most need. In that view, with limited or lack of family and friends support, victims can get the needed help from the community services and programs. However, the experience and psychological status requires the victims to be guided by the suitable programs and their benefits as a means of encouraging them to seek the necessary help. Such encouragement would entail explaining the benefits and guiding them to seek support as well as actively involving oneself in taking them to the programs and services. Also, following up on the victims’ progress is crucial in ensuring that they follow through with the specific programs’ requirements.
Response to students’ posts
The student clearly notes the psychological problems that a disaster victim faces immediately after the incident and provides a clear procedure on how they would address the problem. In that respect, I agree with them on the first three actions that they have noted to include; seeking social support from those close and ready to help and then seeking to help and interact with others as a means of helping and also sharing with them. Finally, accepting the situation and the healing process is also crucial as it helps one to revert to normal life. Regarding helping those suffering trauma to seek and accept help, the student also outlines an effective approach that considers the victims sensitivity and needs. In that view, I agree with the student’s suggestion on the first three steps of psychological response to a disaster as well as on how to help neighbors suffering trauma.
The student identified three steps that I agree with as immediate response measures relating to psychological recovery. However, seeking housing would be dependent on the nature of disasters as other disasters would not need a change of house and residence but the key aspect is the relationship with those close to the victim. In that respect, encouraging the victim and building relationships with them would be the most crucial. Regarding encouraging the set of available programs and services, the student clearly identifies the need to relate to the victims’ experience and encourage them to use the service demonstrating to them the benefits of such programs.
