The Problem

• The mental and emotional effects of natural disasters may not be apparent at first. This is because the first reaction is to take care of the physical damage. In a state of emergency, people need to be rescued and their physical safety is of first concern. Efforts are focused on cleaning up, rebuilding and providing shelter. Because there are so many things that need to be taken care of, many people have to put their emotions on the back burner while they deal with the physical damage. Once the houses are rebuilt and the destruction is cleaned up, emotional trauma begins to emerge
  
  

Symptoms

• Psychiatrists who have studied the mental health effects of disasters have noticed an apparent pattern. The first experience is shock and terror. Then there is a feeling of euphoria that you have survived. Soon after, this feeling melts away into depression and anxiety and the realization of what has happened and what could have happened. Some people appear to be unaffected by the natural disaster until symptoms start to emerge months later. Changes in behavior can include depression, guilt, insomnia, anger and withdrawal from family and friends.
  
  

Loss

• A lot of emotional distress from a natural disaster can be due to a sense of loss. This can be the most extreme loss, like the death of a friend or family member, but can also stem from loss of seemingly less important things. When someone's home is destroyed, it might feel like a part of them were taken away. Most people put so much work into their houses and have many memories that took place there. For most people, their home is the one place where they can have a sense of security and privacy. Some of the hardest personal items to lose are photographs. Though they are just material objects, they hold memories and clues to a person's past.
  
  

Treatment

• People who have emotional trauma should not be expected to just get over it and can benefit from psychological therapy. Many of these people are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one of the most important aids for recovery is having a strong network of social support. This can be fellow survivors, friends and family.
  
  

Taking Action

• Health organizations are taking this issue seriously. In the 1980's, the National Institute of Mental Health formed the Center for Mental Health Studies of Emergencies. Researching the effects of disasters and educating aid workers and other mental health professionals is essential. The more aid workers and health professionals know about the effects of natural disasters, the better chance there is of being able to counsel people before it gets worse.