Tsunami victims are currently scrambling to meet basic human needs—shelter, food and water—as defined by psychologist Abraham H. Maslow (1908-1970) in his famous hierarchy of needs. As weeks go by, streets will be cleaned, homes will be rebuilt, and the international community and TV crews will head back home. By that time, the wants of those living in disaster areas will have become more complex, and more difficult to address. Topping the list will be the need to deal with suffering and with the long-term consequences of the trauma, including a likely onslaught of mental health problems.

15-30% Likely to Suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a psychological disorder than occurs following the experiencing or witnessing of a life-threatening event, such as a natural disaster, like Asia’s tsunami. “We can predict that 15-30% of the tsunami victims will develop PTSD,” says Alain Brunet, PhD, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre. “Once things have settled down, these people will begin experiencing disaster-related intrusive thoughts, avoidance and hyperactivity—typical PTSD symptoms. Depression will also likely increase in the planet’s afflicted regions.”

Respecting Their Needs: Listening to the People Affected
Ellen Corin, PhD, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, emphasizes the need to tailor our aid to the cultures of the region and, in particular, to support local professionals, groups and communities, “They are already involved in caring for these people and are familiar with their ways of facing adversity. It’s important for us to understand that the affected people may differ from our culture in how they deal with trauma, and may favour other ways of expressing and sharing their suffering and giving meaning to what has happened. We should also take into account the role of strong spiritual traditions in these societies, and how their culture defines and treats mental health problems.
“To do this, we must listen and learn. Approaches routinely used in North America could be considered bizarre, inappropriate or even harmful in these societies. By respecting their ways, we signal that we are there to provide support—not to impose our mental health solutions.”
An expert in adapting mental health services to the larger social and cultural context within the international community, Ellen Corin has worked extensively in both South India and Central Africa, and has recently conferred with Indian colleagues in the wake of the tsunami disaster.

The Unborn Children: A Vulnerable Population
Québec experienced a natural disaster on a smaller scale in January 1998: 3 million people went without electricity—some for more than one month—following a series of freezing rain storms. Suzanne King, PhD, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, has been following a sample of pregnant women and finds that the severity of the stress experienced as a result of the ice storm is associated with a number of minor complications in the development of their children. Larger disasters such as the tsunami will likely have an even greater impact upon pregnant women and their unborn children in the region. She recommends that pregnant women be prioritized for receiving crisis counselling in order to protect the unborn child from the negative effects of prenatal stress.
 

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