Disaster mental health: Building a research level collection (with Ardis Hanson),

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Disasters are not uncommon events and take many forms. Disasters, in whatever form they take, rob us of our sense of well-being, our security, our community, our loved ones, and our homes. Disasters forever change ‘life as we know it’ and seriously impact our ability to function. The psychosocial effects of a natural or manmade disaster can be long lasting, and the resulting trauma can reverberate even with those not directly affected by the disaster. Mental, neurological, and behavioral disorders are common sequelae to natural and manmade disasters. People with these disorders endure social isolation, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. Further, these disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs. With the increase in natural and manmade disasters, the incidence of mental illnesses has grown exponentially, creating large at-risk and vulnerable populations.1

Keywords

  • disaster
  • matrix
  • collection
  • mental health

Disciplines

  • Information Literacy
  • Library and Information Science
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

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