Synopsis of Kar’s Article
Natural disasters are in high prevalence in developing countries due to various reasons. The catastrophes have diverse impacts to the lives of people such as deaths and untold sufferings. Several reasons causes calamities such as lack of proper warning systems, unpreparedness during emergencies, inappropriate response to any disaster and lack of sound policies to contain disasters.
In addition, tragedies in the third world usually affect many people. Lack of transport and communication services and scarcity of funds for sensitive respite seems to be essential determinants of morbidity. Pre-disaster features such as inferior financial positions, wretched housing systems and poor communication structures add to the depression.
The above features influence the lives of people psychologically. Kar observes that people are affected differently depending on cultural beliefs. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness pertaining to psychological wellbeing in relation to the outcomes of catastrophes globally, particularly in the more susceptible developing states.
Kar continues to postulate that there is a great necessity to intensify calamity response system in emerging economies. For administration of disaster-related psychological wellbeing, institutions must build appropriate reactions and intercessions bearing in mind the five theoretical stages that is, pre-disaster caution phase, tragedy phased during and immediately after the tragedy, untimely post-disaster stage, topical post-disaster stage and isolated post-disaster stage
Kar concurs with Telles’ findings that methodical screening of fatalities in the tragedy affected regions is favorable than habitual medical assessment. In case this is not considered, several fatalities could undergo pain silently rather than request mental aid.
Screening must be extensive enough to consist of not only trauma-related medical conditions but also other disorders, subclinical indications and psychosocial/ professional/ educational or everyday problems. It is vital to come up with evaluation techniques that are age suitable, ethnically responsive and legitimate (Kar 2009)
Influence on Environmental Psychology
A disaster can be defined as a catastrophe that emanates from a natural or synthetic danger. The tragedy that hit Japan would be regarded as a worldwide emergency, a calamity that was so disastrous such that any person living through it would undergo heartbreaking effect. It denied individuals safety, wellbeing and tempered with societal status.
There are no resolutions to such tragedies and as a result, trauma survivors are upset in decision-making processes. In case an individual believes that nothing can be done to alter the damaging, intimidating or challenging ecological circumstances, emotional survival is possible. At such a condition, an individual resorts to reframing, contemplation, optimism or hallucination and evading negative idea.
Psychological Health
Following medicinal and physical requirements, emotional requirements of survivors should be evaluated. Emotional responses to tragedy consist of behavioral alterations and degeneration in children. It causes trepidation and disquiet as regards to recurrence, sleep disorder and school evasion making students to fear school life.
Re-establishing regular duty is indispensable for both children and mature individuals. Common prototypes of meal (with well-known fare), work of some kind, interaction time and bedtime schedule are significant for mature persons and children.
Journey of Thought
Regularly, trauma victims undergo journeys of reflection, which obstructs their decision-making. They try to find an explanation to a problem afflicting them but end up with none. They hysterically try to explore all possible avenues, which makes them feel more unsystematic.
Whereas their journey of thinking is provisional, it typically does not end when they are in a secure place. Their managerial skills throughout this time are repeatedly disorganized. They concentrate on one repetitious idea and are incapable of dealing with the subject at hand.
Amplification of Dysfunction
Disturbances overstress dysfunctional responses. A disordered family unit or society with a history of rage happens to be furious when undergoing a suffering. Their wrath increases the confusion and incapacitates successful handling of conflicts. For several individuals, calamities signify loss of property. Their residential places or economic safety and every day practices are tempered with. Mourning is unending for departed treasured ones and acquaintances.
Regions vanish together with common ceremonies for instance evening walks or memorable shopping habits. Everything that links citizens to their history such as snap folders, barricade drapes, spiritual objects, computer games, and over-romantic items of all sorts are vanished. Consciousness of how time is manifested transforms into ‘before’ or ‘after’ the tragedy. For some, signs come out straight away whereas for others only as they begin to restructure their lives do traumatic signs arise.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that environmental disasters are of concern to psychologists. Natural catastrophes have dislocated people in many parts of the world making them to undergo psychological trauma. Kar observes that the conditions are usually worse in the countries of south since they have no socio-economic and political means for coping up with the disasters.
It is true that countries of the south have always requested their western counterparts to intervene during occurrences of natural calamities. Developed countries come to the rescue of people in troubled regions but fail to provide psychological prescription.
References
Kar, N. (2009). Natural disasters in developing countries: Mental health issues. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, 63(8), 327.
Telles, S. (2009). Risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the Bihar Floods. Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, 63(8), 330-34.