Verified Document

Psychological Implications Of Disasters Essay

Technological Disasters Japan Tsunami Disaster March 2011 -- Present

Societal Consequences Discussion

The earthquake and following tsunami that hit Japan was truly a disaster -- part natural and part technological. It affected the Japanese population in many ways. There were the initial consequences that included massive loss of life and population displacement. However, there are also lasting consequences that can even include factors such as the mental health, physical health, and other societal consequences that can be long lasting. This analysis will look at the impact to the citizenry from multiple perspectives, discuss the roles of non-governmental agencies (NGOs) in the after math of the disaster, and discuss what organization would lead a recovery response if such an event occurred in the United States.

Societal Consequences Discussion

The societal consequences that have come as a result of the disaster can be thought of from different perspectives and on many different levels. The first wave of consequences include the high death toll, the building and infrastructure damages, and the displacement of an estimated three hundred thousand people. The economic damages were estimated to be in the billions and as many as fifteen thousand people lost their lives. Almost three hundred thousand buildings...

The disaster also left millions of people without power and water for an extended period of time. The initial wave of devastation can be hard to grasp and it affected the entire population of Japan directly or indirectly. With the collapse of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the release of radiation also played a key role.
There are also many lasting effects to a disaster that linger far beyond the original devastation. These disasters can have profound and lasting psychological effects on individual and communities that adds a different dimension to the long-term psychological trauma that the event caused (Pietrangelo, 2011). Such psychological implication are often referred to mass trauma. Ellin Bloch, Ph.D., California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, who specializes in trauma psychology and recovery, describes the grieving process for mass trauma in this way (Pietrangelo, 2011):

"Dr. Bloch cautions that, unlike the grieving process that takes place when we experience loss on an individual or family level, a multiple trauma of this nature creates a sense of grief so colossal that there are "no words to put on it... no language" that can adequately describe it. Victims may be unable…

Sources used in this document:
References

IASC. (2007). IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. Retrieved from IASC: http://admin.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/IASC-Guidelines-Mental-Health-Psychosocial.pdf

Kormino, T. (2015). Role of International NGO in an Uprecedented Disaster in Japan. Disaster Risk Reduction, 13-26.

Pietrangelo, A. (2011, April 12). Feeling for Japan: Coping and Recovering from Disaster. Retrieved from Natural Choice: http://www.naturalchoice.net/blogs/greenies_0411.html

PSID. (N.d.). Recovery. Retrieved from Psychosocial Support in Disasters: http://www.psid.org.au/recovery
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters
Words: 5642 Length: 15 Document Type: Research Paper

This is mostly experienced in case where the trauma caused psychological disorders, phobias, and depression, and this may go as far as inhibiting the maturation process of the child and even interacting with the emerging personality. According to Newman (1976) three factors can be used to predict the psychological effects of disasters on children, these are; the child's developmental level, the child's perception about the family's response to the

Disaster Theory & Emergency Management
Words: 3083 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

As Nielsen and Lidstone (1998) note, It is ironic that the public demands safety yet a number of cost-effective and feasible measures to mitigate disasters are not adopted by many... Such a failure of the public to adopt disaster mitigation measures has a long record in Australia (Nielsen and Lidstone 1998) This attitude is one of the reasons given for the greater emphasis on public education. In theoretical terms, the view is

Chernobyl Disaster of 1986
Words: 1392 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Chernobyl Disaster The Chernobyl nuclear disaster is one of the worst ever catastrophe to strike the world. On April 26, 1986 the unit 4 reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was totally destroyed by the explosion that was triggered by the sudden surge in the power output. Radioactive material got scattered all over the place leading to severe radiation hazard which was not restricted to Ukraine and the

Immigrant Experience and Its Psychological Toll Information
Words: 3416 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

Immigrant Experience And Its Psychological Toll Information Competency & Library Use San Francisco, CA The theoretical framework centers of the immigrant experience and how it changes the individual while navigating his or her new society. The topic statement seeks to explore these phenomena by focusing on the psychological experience and its relationship to violence and economics. The idea that the action of immigrating is profoundly disruptive on ideas of self-worth, identity and economic

Risk Crisis Disaster Management
Words: 3665 Length: 11 Document Type: Essay

Risk Crisis Disaster Management Managing the problems related to global warming is quite different than responding to a damaging earthquake albeit both strategies require careful planning and coordination. This paper points to the contrasts between the two ways of management and response, and offers suggestions from the literature on pre-planning for both eventualities. Managing Strategies for Serious Earthquakes To say that a major earthquake that hits in an urban area is an acute

Legal Ramifications of the Texas City Disaster
Words: 931 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

The Texas City DisasterIntroductionThe Texas City Disaster of 1947 was a man-made disaster with far-reaching consequences. This paper will delve into the background of this disaster, explore the causes that led to such a catastrophe, discuss the ethical issues at play, and examine the aftermath and lessons learned from this tragic event. Understanding these aspects of the Texas City disaster provides important insights into the consequences of disregarding safety protocols

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now