Psychosocial assessment of households covered by health centers, identification of high risk ‎cases and psychological management in crisis and disasters

Abstract

Background:The crisis is the severity and peak of stress. According to the accumulative characteristic of stress, the accumulated stresses become a major crisis over the time. All those exposed to the crisis experience different posttraumatic psychological states. Some people suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Some of them suffer from post-traumatic stress due to the observation of dangerous scenes and lose of the beloved ones. Of among, personal vulnerability is one of the most important factors that has a psychologically significant effect on the occurrence or absence of psychological disorders in post-crisis events. According to the importance of this issue, Marand Health Center s Psychology Unit intends to identify people who expose the risk of psychological disorders through a crosssectional assessment, and develop an operational program required for psychological interventions in crisis and disasters with a prospective approach. Methods: The present study is a research initiative idea and plan. The total number of households covered by health centers is 77,564 people. To execute this program, it is first necessary to hold meetings with psychiatric centers and clinical experts regarding the purpose and implementation procedure of this program. The evaluation form is then prepared and reviewed according to the psychologists' perspectives, and its validity and reliability was confirmed by experts. Finally, a training course was held for personnel involved in health centers and required training on how to complete the forms and identify those at risk was presented to them. As well as, in the context of post-incident crisis management (with a prospective approach), follow-up was conducted for those exposed events, and required interventions were provided to prevent the deterioration of the mental condition or the occurrence of psychological disorders. Results: As event-induced crises on the one hand predispose an individual to psychological disorders and, on the other hand, increase the potential forces and the use of psychological mechanisms, proper intervention on the one hand is therefore beneficial to prevent the immediate symptoms and psychological disorders and on the other hand, it will bring about the individual growth and prosperity. Conclusion: Since one of the basic discussions in crisis and risk management is the preparation before and the action at the right time, identifying people at risk and training ways to deal with stress can prevent psychological consequences of critical events based on this idea. According to the studies and surveys, the most pre-crisis intervention includes the analysis and readiness of structures, strength creation, and so forth. And there are few studies on the psychological hazards. Therefore, it is suggested that this idea is implemented and evaluated in some disastrous areas of the country.