Loss of Life in the Aftermath of a Disaster

¶ … Loss of Life

A recent disaster event that occurred in this region has apparently contributed to significant loss of life. A review of the organization's response plan demonstrates the lack of a plan to deal with significant loss of life though the plan is ready for implementation. Actually, the plan does not provide any details regarding any treatment of how the response team should address the psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life. In light of the impact of the recent disaster, it is increasingly important for responders to have specific instructions and guidance on how to deal with the psychological challenges associated with handling significant loss of life.

The inclusion of this element in the disaster response plan is crucial towards developing and implementing a coordinated response to emergency situations that have the capability of resulting in significant loss of life. Without the inclusion of these guidelines and instructions, the responders will not only have a difficult time in helping victims' families during recovery but will also be largely ineffective. Even though preventing or lessening loss of life and property is the main goal of emergency response and disaster planning, it is vital for responders to address the psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life.

Overview of Disasters:

Disasters can primarily be described as sudden, calamitous events that generate huge destruction, loss, and damage of life and property (Srivastava, 2010, p.1). The impact of disasters in turn leads to immense damages and significantly affects the psychological, political, socioeconomic, and cultural state of the area where it takes place. While the origins of these events differ and include natural and human factors, they inflict considerable destruction, damage, and human suffering. Given the likelihood of occurrence of disasters because of varying causes, disaster planning has emerged as an important aspect of emergency response. This is primarily because disaster planning helps in preventing the occurrence of such incidents and/or lessening their impacts on property and life. However, the effectiveness of these plans is dependent on focusing on every aspect related to disasters and concerted efforts by various relevant stakeholders such as federal agencies to effectively implement the plan and response strategies (Miskel, 2008, p.106).

Psychological Impact of Disasters

Apart from psychosocial impacts of disasters, these events have considerable psychological effects. In essence, disasters contribute to psychological distress, which is described as a severe and problematic cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal response to difficulties. The psychological distress is great to an extent that it can disrupt an individual's normal life patterns. The psychological impact of disasters can continue to worsen or become more severe if the individual does not create and utilize effective coping responses and strategies on a daily basis. Therefore, one of the major ways of dealing with psychological impact of disasters is the development and use of effective coping strategies or responses.

Dealing with Psychological Problems Related to Significant Loss of Life

According to the World Health Organization, mental health care or psychological well-being is an important element in response to emergencies (Srivastava, 2010, p.1). As a result, it is important for responders to have specific guidelines and instructions on how to develop and implement programs that focus on dealing with psychological challenges brought by significant loss of life in the aftermath of a disaster. During this process, the responders should recognize that human responses to disasters and probable significant loss of life are embedded on how people think, interact, and behave in the environment or affected area. Generally, significant loss of life in the aftermath of a disaster generates pre-traumatic, peri-traumatic, and post-traumatic psychological challenges. Pre-traumatic psychological challenges include constant life stress, psychiatric disorder, and lack of social support while pre-traumatic psychological challenges include high perceived threat to life and increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. The post-traumatic psychological challenges include lack of social support, constant life stress, considerable loss of resources, and bereavement. In addition, psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life include other cognitive effects like memory impairment, self-blame, lower self-esteem and self-efficacy, disbelief, difficulties in concentration, nightmares, and confusion.

Responders should deal with psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life in various phases. The first phase is the rescue stage in which the survivors of the event are relocated to a different location in order to help commence the recovery process. After relocation, the responders should engage in a process of identifying symptoms of psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life. Some of the major signs that the emergency responders should seek to identify include difficulties in communication, decreased attention span, confusion or disorientation, difficulty in maintaining normal life patterns, self-doubt and hopelessness, depression, mood-swings, constant crying, poor work performance, and increased drugs abuse.

This should be followed by a second phase i.e. rehabilitation phase which will last for a long period of time after the disaster. During this phase, the responders should mainly focus on how to ease the psychological challenges of dealing with significant loss of life. In this case, the responders should try to establish links between the survivors and professionals. This is geared towards ensuring that the affected individual can easily access professional help and talk to someone regarding his/her psychological challenges due to the impact of the disaster. The professional counselors will help in dealing with these problems by providing vital help to the individual on how to deal with post traumatic stress disorder. In contrast, the individual will have an opportunity to talk to someone regarding his/her feelings such as sorrow in relation to the significant loss of life. The professional counselor helps the client to develop suitable and effective coping responses and strategies to the varying emotions. The rehabilitation phase will enable the individual to take necessary measures towards personal and emotional healing, maintaining a normal life and everyday routines, and avoid self-blame for the disastrous event.