How can government protect mental health amid a disaster?

Abstract

Natallia Sianko is the Washington Fellow of the American Orthopsychiatric Association for 2010-2011. The Fellow addresses issues identified by an Association advisory group, and the general perspective presented is consistent with that of the Association. However, the specific opinions are official statements of the Association only if they are endorsed by a vote of the Board of Directors.Inside the Beltway is written by the Washington Fellow with direction, guidance, extensive editing, and sometimes coauthorship by the chair of the advisory group, Gary B. Melton, who also serves as the Fellow's principal mentor.

Political violence, collective functioning and health: A review of the literature

“…The freedom, pluralism, accountability and trust inherent within functioning democracies support individual development and well-being, particularly within cases of mass disasters such as political violence (Melton and Sianko, 2010, Garbarino, 2011). In a more practical sense, individuals depend on governmental structures to provide opportunities for meaningful participation and to fulfill of basic requirements of health and well-being, such as systems for emergency response, water, sanitation, health and schooling (Flores et al ., 2009, Melton and Sianko, 2010).…”

“…In a more practical sense, individuals depend on governmental structures to provide opportunities for meaningful participation and to fulfill of basic requirements of health and well-being, such as systems for emergency response, water, sanitation, health and schooling (Flores et al ., 2009, Melton and Sianko, 2010). Political violence is intimately related to several areas of governance, including leadership, freedom of the press, and accountability by governments for atrocities (de Jong, 2010).…”

“…Governmental systems that uphold the principles of democracy and accountability foster individual development and nurture well-being (Melton and Sianko, 2010, Garbarino, 2011). However, political violence undermines participation, as governments are weakened due to external targeting or turn against their own citizens.…”

“…For populations affected by political violence, resources within the environment (e.g., schools, community institutions, opportunities for social and political engagement, responsive public systems, and governmental accountability for atrocities committed against civilian populations) appear to offer protection against the deleterious impacts of political violence on health (Berk, 1998, Farwell and Cole, 2001, Lykes et al ., 2007, Betancourt et al ., 2010, Melton and Sianko, 2010). In spite of what we know, however, about the potential for social and political contexts to build resilience, there is limited health scholarship on how political violence threatens the individual-environment relationship, which we know is core to well-being (Kemp et al ., 1997; Melton and Sianko, 2010).…”

“…In spite of what we know, however, about the potential for social and political contexts to build resilience, there is limited health scholarship on how political violence threatens the individual-environment relationship, which we know is core to well-being (Kemp et al ., 1997; Melton and Sianko, 2010). While it is increasingly recognized that political violence is a collective experience (Martín-Baró et al ., 1994, Summerfield, 2000, Nelson, 2003, Robben, 2005, Giacaman et al ., 2007c), we know more about its influence on individuals than we do about the ways it affects the larger groups, organizations, and government structures that underpin health and well-being.…”