Environmental Crisis and Disaster

Crisis

A disruption that physically affects a system as a whole and threatens its basic assumptions, its subjective sense of self, and its existential core (Pauchant and Mitroff, 1992, 15).

Crisis

An abnormal situation which presents a high risk to business and may trigger rapid policy changes, since it draws public and media attention and threatens public trust (Sawalha, Jraisat, and Al-Qudah, 2013).

Crisis

A situation faced by an individual, group, or organization which they are unable to cope with by the use of normal routine procedures and in which stress is created by sudden change (Booth 1993, cited in Moe and Pathranarakul, 2006, 402)

Crisis

perception or experiencing of an event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds the person's current resources and coping mechanisms (James & Gilliland, 2013)

Crisis

Stressful event or perceived threat + lack of efficient coping skills, resulting in emotional unbalance

Limited in time: 1-6 weeks

During the ________, the subject asks for help

During the _________, the subject is more compliant to external intervention

The evolution in _________ depends on the timing of the intervention

Stages of Crisis

Stage I: Immediate response
Stage II: Emotional reactions
Stage III: Resolution

Stage I: Immediate response

Stage of Crisis

astonishment, denial

Stage II: Emotional reactions

Stage of Crisis

anxiety, anger, guilt, regression, depression

Stage III: Resolution

Stage of Crisis

acceptance, planning the future

Maturational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Periods in life which entail changes in social roles, biological and social pressures;

Maturational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Adolescence, marriage, birth of a child, retirement;

Maturational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Adolescence: _______________ - originality, hormonal and psychological unbalance

Situational Crisis

Type of Crisis

A specific external event that disrupts the internal psychological balance of the individual:
• Death of spouse
• Divorce
• Illness
• Accidental pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Sexual dysfunction

Situational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• The experience of loss (of a loved one, of self- esteem, of normal functioning, of status, of job...)

Situational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Issues concerning change (transition, marriage, birth of a child, moving, change of job...)

Situational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Interpersonal issues (family conflicts)

Situational Crisis

Type of Crisis

• Environmental factors (pollution, work environment...)

Catastrophic Crisis (Social)

Type of Crisis

accidental, unusual, unexpected:
• Fire, earthquake, flood, kidnapping, nuclear accidents...

Catastrophic Crisis (Social)

Type of Crisis

• Causes severe stress

Catastrophic Crisis (Social)

Type of Crisis

• Requiring maximal coping strategies and abilities

Disaster

Occurs as a result of a combination of hazards, vulnerabilities, and a lack of measures, where using special measures for planning, coordinating, and utilizing appropriate resources will minimize the adverse impact of disasters (The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR, 2009).

Disaster

Are largely defined as sudden unforeseen events in natural, technological or social causes that lead to destruction, loss, and damage (Alexander, 2005b)

Disaster

complex global problem; it is an inevitable truth of our life.

Disaster

Every year individuals and communities are being affected by ________________, which disrupts their mental health and well-being.

Disaster

Economic and social development throughout the world is frequently interrupted by natural _________________

Disaster

a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. (United Nation International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-IDSR))

Disaster

sudden ecologic phenomenon of sufficient magnitude to require external assistance (World Health Organization (WHO))

Natural and Man-made

Types of Disaster

Natural Disaster

Type of Disaster

result of natural causes, for example cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and tropical cyclones.

Man-made Disaster

Type of Disaster

brought about by human actions, including military conflicts, terrorism, political unrest and industrial accidents

Disaster

Both natural and social factors cause _______________, e.g. flooding might be the result of the combination of deforestation and climate change.

Disaster

All in all, a _____________ is a natural or human-caused occurrence (e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, tsunami, earthquake, explosion, hazardous materials accident, mass criminal victimization incident, war, transportation accident, fire, terrorist attack, famine, epidemic) that causes human suffering.

Disaster

A _____________ creates a collective need that overwhelms local resources and requires additional assistance.

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

Distractibility

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

Declining Performance

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

Recurrent intrusive recollections

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

Flashbacks, nightmares

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

memory loss

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

reduced attention span

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

decision making difficulties

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

calculation difficulties

Cognitive

General Effect of Disaster to People

confusing trivial with major issues

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

clinging, isolation

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

thrill seeking behaviors

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

re-enactments of the trauma

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

increased substance abuse

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

hyper-vigilance

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

elevated startle reflex

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

insomnia

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

gallows humor

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

gait change

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

ritualistic behavior

Behavioral

General Effect of Disaster to People

unwillingness to leave the scene

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

shock symptoms

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

insomnia

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

loss of appetite

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

headaches

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

muscle weakness

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

elevated vital signs

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

fatigue

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

profuse sweating

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

fine motor tremors

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

chills teeth grinding

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

muscle aches

Physical

General Effect of Disaster to People

dizziness

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

depression, anxiety

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

numbness

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

constricted affect

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

guilty, shame, fear

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

intolerance of fear response

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

global pessimism

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

feeling overwhelmed

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

anticipation of harm to self or others

Affective

General Effect of Disaster to People

irritability

Psychological Illness which may develop

• Disasters may put the victims in a state of despair and shock.
• This traumatic experience disrupts the fully-functioning life of the victims and brings loss for individuals, families and communities.
• Emotional instability, stress reactions, anxiety, trauma and other psychological symptoms are observed commonly after the disaster and other traumatic experiences.
• These psychological effects have a massive impact on the concerned individual and also on communities

Anxiety

• The presence of excessive anxiety and worry about a variety of topics, events, or activities.

Anxiety

• Worry occurs more often than not for at least six months and is clearly excessive.

Anxiety

• The worry is experienced as very challenging to control.

Anxiety

• The worry in both adults and children may easily shift from one topic to another.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptoms

Anxiety

The _______________ and worry are accompanied by at least three of the following physical or cognitive symptoms (In children, only one of these symptoms is necessary for a diagnosis of GAD):
• Edginess or restlessness
• Tiring easily; more fatigued than usual
• Impaired concentration or feeling as though the mind goes blank
• Irritability (which may or may not be observable to others)
• Increased muscle aches or soreness
• Difficulty sleeping (due to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, restlessness at night, or unsatisfying sleep)

Depression

• Feelings of sadness, low mood, and loss of interest in their usual activities must mark a change from a person's previous level of functioning and have persisted for at least two weeks.

Depression

• These symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression

These feelings must also be accompanied by at least five other common symptoms of depression, including:
• Change in appetite, losing or gaining weight
• Sleeping too much or not sleeping well (insomnia)
• Fatigue and low energy most days
• Feeling worthless, guilty, and hopeless
• An inability to focus and concentrate that may interfere with daily tasks at home, work, or school
• Movements that are unusually slow or agitated (a change which is often noticeable to others)
• Thinking about death and dying; suicidal ideation or suicide attempts

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

psychiatric disorder involving extreme distress and disruption of daily living that happens in relation to exposure of a traumatic event

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• The DSM-5 outlines PTSD
symptoms into four categories:
• Intrusion symptoms
• Avoidance of thoughts and behaviors
• Negative changes in thoughts and mood
• Changes in arousal and reactivity
• These symptoms are associated with a traumatic event.

PTSD Diagnostic Criteria

Intrusion

Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Reoccurring, involuntary, and intrusive upsetting memories of the event
• Repeated upsetting dreams related to the event
• You experience some type of dissociation (for example, flashbacks) where you feel as though the event is happening again.
• Strong and persistent distress to cues that are either inside or outside of your body that are connected to the event
• Strong bodily reactions (for example, increased heart rate) when reminded of the event

Avoidance

Post-traumatic stress disorder

• You avoid people, places,
conversations, activities, objects, or situations that bring up memories of the event
• You avoid thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations that bring up memories of the event

Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood

Post-traumatic stress disorder

• You can't remember an important aspect of the event
• Persistent and elevated negative evaluations about yourself, others, or the world (for example, "I am unlovable," or, "The world is an evil place")
• Elevated self-blame or blame of others about the cause or consequence of the event
• A pervasive negative emotional state (for example, shame, anger, or fear)
• Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
• Feeling detached from others
• You can't experience positive emotions (for example, happiness, love, joy)

Changes in Arousal and Reactivity

Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling constantly "on guard" or like danger is lurking around every corner (or hypervigilance)
• Heightened startle response
• Impulsive or self-destructive behavior
• Irritability or aggressive behavior
• Problems sleeping

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

Psychology can help individuals, communities, and nations mitigate and adapt to climate change in many ways:
• Educating and communicating with the public about climate change;
• Preventing and treating mental health problems stemming from climate change;
• Enhancing individual and community resilience in the face of natural disasters;
• Planning for, and adjusting to, migrations and population displacements;
• Facilitating rapid transitions to new forms of energy, transportation, and agriculture

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

1. Psychology tells us how to educate and communicate with the public about climate change
2. Psychology tells us how to prevent and treat mental health problems stemming from climate change at individual and community levels
3. Psychology tells us how to plan for and adjust to climate-caused migration and instability

Psychology tells us how to educate and communicate with the public about climate change

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

• Psychological science identifies many of the drivers of climate skepticism and inaction: Climate change impacts are perceived as distant, uncertain, and complex, which can lead to inaction and a desire to uphold established ways of life. Additionally, confronting climate change requires prioritizing long-term wellbeing over short term costs. Psychological science also offers tools to address these challenges.

Psychology tells us how to educate and communicate with the public about climate change

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

• Information about climate change must be clear and straightforward, repeatedly delivered by trusted messengers, and discussed within communities in order to speak to personal needs and realities.
• We must stress actionable, relevant solutions that foster efficacy and empowerment.
• We must draw on people's need to belong in order to create a shared vision for action and a set of social norms that guide behavior.

Psychology tells us how to prevent and treat mental health problems stemming from climate change at individual and community levels

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

Individual Level
- Trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues
Community Level
- Long term economic stress
- Social instability

Psychology tells us how to plan for and adjust to climate-caused migration and instability

The important role of psychological science in behavior changes and addressing the impacts of climate change

Climate Change

_______________________ is the primary challenge of our era.
Urgent action is required, and psychological science can provide answers on how to mitigate and adapt to its consequences

Climate Change

________________ has important implications for mental health. These implications may arise from the physical, social and economic impacts of extreme and acute climatic changes or the psychological distress and anxiety evoked by awareness of the short- and long-term impacts of _____________________