Examining Long-Term Mental Health in a Rural Community Post-Disaster: A Mixed Methods Approach

Abstract

Psychological stressors have been observed immediately following disasters, yet less is known about the long-term effects on the mental health of vulnerable communities. In 2005, Graniteville, S.C. was ravaged by a train derailment that leaked approximately 60 tons of chlorine gas and left several people dead in the small community. The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health of Graniteville-area residents in the nine years following the train disaster using a mixed methods approach. Using the photovoice method, participants reported compromised mental health with symptoms consistent with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear, and anxiety. Medical records analysis indicated that mental health-related hospital encounters generally increased post-disaster. Mental health concerns should be anticipated in the long-term aftermath of disasters. Addressing these concerns is particularly vital in resource-poor communities. Our findings can be useful in developing mental health disaster management protocols and policies for communities in the long-term post-disaster period.

Community Assessment for Mental and Physical Health Effects After Hurricane Irma — Florida Keys, May 2019

“…The most commonly reported barrier to receiving mental health services was limited financial resources. Other reports have documented the increased need for mental health services after a disaster ( 5 – 7 ). The current findings highlight the importance of increasing access to mental health services after the initial phase of disaster relief, when assistance is readily available, specifically when communities realize the limitations of disaster assistance during the long-term recovery phase of a disaster ( 6 ).…”

Promoting Recovery from Disasters, Pandemics, and Trauma: A Systematic Review of Brief Psychological Interventions to Reduce Distress in Adults, Children, and Adolescents

“…Natural hazards and man-made disasters (e.g., floods and mass violence; [ 1 ]), pandemics (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic; [ 2 ]), but also other traumatic events (e.g., train accidents; [ 3 ]) can lead to psychological harm. Children are a group particularly vulnerable to suffering the consequences of crises [ 4 ].…”

Lived Experience of Psychosocial Disability and Social Inclusion: A Participatory Photovoice Study in Rural India and Nepal

“…A scoping review of the use of Photovoice in mental illness was published in 2016, with only 7 studies fitting the inclusion criteria of primary data collection investigating the lived experience of mental illness (Han & Oliffe, 2016). Photovoice has been used to identify mental health concerns in participants post-disaster (Annang Ingram et al, 2018); to investigate the experience of using mental health services (Tang et al, 2016); and to explore factors that contribute to inclusion and wellbeing (Reid & Alonso, 2018). However, all published Photovoice and mental health studies to date have been completed in high-income countries, with a dearth of literature on lived experience of mental illness in low-and middleincome contexts.…”