Human civilization is often threatened by disasters that leave a long trail of devastation, displacement, and disabilities. Disaster causes severe disruptions to the ecological balance, and persons with disabilities become a major vulnerable group. Every event of disaster induces disabilities, both psychological and physical, which cripple the functional capabilities of individuals, groups, and communities. As a whole, disasters are disabling, as they impose challenges on the lives of survivors. In any community, there is a sizeable proportion of people who have different kinds of disabilities and who will become highly vulnerable during disasters. Further, any disaster adds to the number of persons with disabilities (PWD) arising out of different kinds of injuries which leading to permanent disabilities. The nature of the injury and subsequent disability depends on the type of disaster. Natural disasters such as earthquakes largely cause injuries due to falling of heavy objects such as walls, boulders, roof and beam. This can cause fractures, cuts, wounds, and also damage to the spinal cord, which might lead to amputation, paraplegia, etc. Similarly, water-related disasters might cause drowning or the spread of disease, whereas fires cause burns, choking and even death. In bomb blasts, communal conflict and such human-inflicted conflicts cause bullet injuries, brush cuts by sharp weapons, etc. Disaster-induced disabilities can also cause severe psychological stress. Those injured, and survivors with disabilities, suffer from substantial distress, resulting in anxiety, depression, multiple stress reactions, adjustment issues, and, in extreme situations, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These physical and psychological disabilities exacerbate other socio-economic vulnerabilities, and the PWDs and their families struggle to regain normalcy in the path of rehabilitation. In any disaster rehabilitation, PWD are a major concern. Over the years, the inclusion of PWDs in disaster management has been highlighted through the passage of several acts, policies and guidelines. The psychosocial support and mental health services offered by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) have long been focused on the issues of psychological and physical disabilities at the community level for PWD. The systematic interventions for PWDs in the Gujarat earthquake (2001), communal conflicts in the Sikkim earthquake or with the survivors of accidents on several different occasions has helped to develop the specific module of holistic recovery intervention with PWDs, which is empowering, inclusive, and sustainable.

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Crossroads Between Disaster and Disability: Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services for the Empowerment of Persons with Disability

  • Subhasis Bhadra,
  • Kasi Sekar

摘要

Human civilization is often threatened by disasters that leave a long trail of devastation, displacement, and disabilities. Disaster causes severe disruptions to the ecological balance, and persons with disabilities become a major vulnerable group. Every event of disaster induces disabilities, both psychological and physical, which cripple the functional capabilities of individuals, groups, and communities. As a whole, disasters are disabling, as they impose challenges on the lives of survivors. In any community, there is a sizeable proportion of people who have different kinds of disabilities and who will become highly vulnerable during disasters. Further, any disaster adds to the number of persons with disabilities (PWD) arising out of different kinds of injuries which leading to permanent disabilities. The nature of the injury and subsequent disability depends on the type of disaster. Natural disasters such as earthquakes largely cause injuries due to falling of heavy objects such as walls, boulders, roof and beam. This can cause fractures, cuts, wounds, and also damage to the spinal cord, which might lead to amputation, paraplegia, etc. Similarly, water-related disasters might cause drowning or the spread of disease, whereas fires cause burns, choking and even death. In bomb blasts, communal conflict and such human-inflicted conflicts cause bullet injuries, brush cuts by sharp weapons, etc. Disaster-induced disabilities can also cause severe psychological stress. Those injured, and survivors with disabilities, suffer from substantial distress, resulting in anxiety, depression, multiple stress reactions, adjustment issues, and, in extreme situations, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These physical and psychological disabilities exacerbate other socio-economic vulnerabilities, and the PWDs and their families struggle to regain normalcy in the path of rehabilitation. In any disaster rehabilitation, PWD are a major concern. Over the years, the inclusion of PWDs in disaster management has been highlighted through the passage of several acts, policies and guidelines. The psychosocial support and mental health services offered by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) have long been focused on the issues of psychological and physical disabilities at the community level for PWD. The systematic interventions for PWDs in the Gujarat earthquake (2001), communal conflicts in the Sikkim earthquake or with the survivors of accidents on several different occasions has helped to develop the specific module of holistic recovery intervention with PWDs, which is empowering, inclusive, and sustainable.