Disaster Movies and Their Impact on Mental Health

Introduction to Disasters

Disasters are the sudden occurrence of certain events that result in causing a huge amount of damage, loss, and destruction to human life and the natural environment. The harm or damage caused by disasters cannot be easily measured and depends on geographical location, climate, and other environmental factors. These disasters ultimately affect the mental, socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions of the affected area. Generally, disasters have the following effects on impacted communities:

This epic film retells the events of the night when the great Titanic set sail on its fateful voyage, as narrated from the perspective of an imaginary survivor named Rose. At the age of 100, she recounts the story of the ship's disaster to those searching for a lost diamond she once possessed.

Disaster-Based Movies: Titanic and World Trade Centre

Titanic was called the ship of dreams and was considered unsinkable until its departure on April 12, 1912. During its journey, a poor artist named Jack Dawson and a wealthy young woman named Rose fall in love, but their romance quickly transforms into a desperate struggle for survival as the ship nears collapse in the North Atlantic. Rose leaves her fiancé for Jack, but Jack ultimately dies when the Titanic collides with an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sinks in the early hours of April 15 at around 2:00 a.m. Rose is rescued along with approximately 700 other survivors in the ship's lifeboats.

Eighty-four years later, an elderly Rose tells her granddaughter and friends the full story of the Titanic — from its departure on April 12, 1912, to its end on April 15, 1912, on its first and final voyage (McCoy, 2008).

World Trade Centre is an American drama film directed by Oliver Stone, based on the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The film is grounded in the true story of two of the last survivors, John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno, who were rescued from Ground Zero by courageous rescuers who refused to give up. It is the story of two heroes during one of the most catastrophic moments in American history — a moment when buildings collapsed and survivors emerged from the ashes to inspire the entire human race.

The film depicts the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. After the attack, the collapsing World Trade Center building traps members of the Port Authority Police Department's rescue team beneath the rubble. Police officer Jimeno and his sergeant, John McLoughlin, are found alive under the ruins. The film centers on the efforts of the rescue team to save both men, and on how these two courageous individuals survived against overwhelming odds (Brent, 2006).

Disaster-based movies no longer hold the same attraction for viewers that they once did. These films have lost much of their charm and are no longer at the top of most audiences' must-watch lists. For a disaster movie to attract viewers, it must reflect the times in which the audience lives; otherwise, people are unlikely to be interested in watching a film about a catastrophe that occurred long ago.

Audience Response to Disaster Movies

Films like Titanic and World Trade Centre were made in close proximity to the crises they depicted and were genuinely appreciated by audiences. These disaster movies provided honest portrayals of real events and offered stories of survival that deeply moved viewers.

According to several articles published by the BBC, disaster movies have lost much of their appeal, and audiences now attend such films mainly due to hype, quickly losing interest if the film fails to engage them. Critics and writers have noted that people are no longer impressed by special effects alone — they want compelling characters and meaningful situations. Audiences have grown weary of heavy computer graphics and are seeking something fresh and distinctive (M. Winstanley, 2009).

Impacts of Natural Disasters on Mental Health

Every year, millions of people are affected by man-made or natural disasters. These events include floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires. During such disasters, people face the risk of losing their lives or sustaining serious physical or mental injuries. Many lose their homes and communities, which can severely destabilize their sense of well-being.

Natural disasters are among the leading causes of mental illness in affected communities. Whenever a natural disaster occurs, hospitals see a significant rise in psychiatric cases. The most immediate psychological aftereffects are typically stress and depression, which can become severe — particularly when a person has lost family members or close friends in the disaster.

The effects of disasters on mental health can be profound. Those most severely impacted are generally those who lived through the disaster directly. Next are those who witnessed the aftermath in person, followed by those who learned of the damage through news media — who, while affected, typically recover more quickly. Research indicates that roughly half of all disaster survivors experience significant psychological distress or mental illness. The following factors are associated with worse outcomes:

Human resilience means that a large number of people will naturally recover from the effects of disaster over time. It is widely understood that most people will eventually move forward with their lives without lasting damage to their mental health. Several factors can strengthen resilience following a disaster:

Social support is one of the most effective tools for recovering from disaster. Having the help and understanding of others during periods of intense stress makes it easier and faster for victims to heal (Golembiewski, 2013).