Abstract
Natural disasters of various kinds are occurring throughout the regions of the world, particularly in recent times. While the health consequences of these events have been recognized, the emotional sequelae suffered by people immediately and over a long term are also a priority. Similarly, disaster risk reduction and structural resilience has been emphasized in terms of alarm systems and building codes relative to coastlines, yet more attention to the psychosocial resilience of people is warranted. While mounting literature suggests the need for psychosocial interventions to assist survivors and the extended global community to address these important psychosocial impacts, more action, support and research are called for, to establish an evidence base for such programs. To support these efforts, and for them to be effective, policies are necessary on the national and intergovernmental level. The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, I describe extensive advocacy on the part of psychologists regarding psychosocial resilience and recovery. Second, I review significant and ground-breaking government agreements and policies that currently support such efforts. Third, I highlight the importance of these agreements as a foundation for interventions. This chapter concludes with suggestions for future research and advocacy directives to achieve emotional resilience before and after disasters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
the World Council for Psychotherapy, International Association of Applied Psychology, International Association of Schools of Social Work, International Council of Psychologists, International Psychoanalytical Association, International Union of Psychological Science, MindFreedom Support Coalition International, Soroptimist International, American Psychological Association, World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and World Federation for Mental Health.
References
APHA, American Public Health Association (2019). Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on Mental Health and Well-being. Policy Number: 20196. Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2020/01/13/addressing-the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-mentalhealth-and-well-being.
Art Saves Lives Foundation. (2019). We are resilient people. Mission report: Resilience, empowerment, and connection building training. Access at https://drive.google.com/open?id=17Gf6uOVZMD3N-Ak4igihhTRewTC5BoE1.
Bateson, T., Chireno, E. & Kuriansky, J. (Co-Executive Producers) (2009). Seal the deal at CILA 2009 (2009, Nov 6). [Video]. Retrieved April 6, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP-yjpdXO8M.
Forman, A. (2014). Five words that can change the world. Jewish Journal, 39(4), 1–9.
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. (2019). Access at https://www.gfdrr.org/en.
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (2005). Hyogo framework for action 2005–2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. Retrieved from https://www.unisdr.org/2005/wcdr/intergover/official-doc/L-docs/Hyogo-framework-for-action-english.pdf.
Jean-Charles, W. (2011). Rebati: After the earthquake, the IAAP UN team continues to remember Haiti. IAAP Bulletin of the International Association of Applied Psychology, 23, 32–38. Retrieved from https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/documents/apnl_v23_i1-2.pdf.
Johnson, J., & Galea, S. (2009). Disasters and population health. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Lifespan perspectives on natural disasters: Coping with Katrina, Rita and other storms (pp. 281–326). New York: Springer.
Koyama, S., Aida, J., Kawachi, I., Kondo, N., Subramanian, S. V., Ito, K., et al. (2014). Social support improves mental health among the victims relocated to temporary housing following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine., 234(3), 241–247.
Kuriansky, J. (2005). Working effectively with the mass media in disaster mental health. In G. Reyes & G. A. Jacobs (Eds.), Handbook of international disaster psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 127–146). Westport, CT: Praeger Press.
Kuriansky, J. (2006). Getting it to the hill. Your voice counts: Public policy advocacy for psychologists. Amplifier, Media Psychology. Submitted to division 46 media psychology of the American Psychological Association.
Kuriansky, J. (2008). A clinical toolbox for cross-cultural counseling and training. In U. P. Gielen, J. G. Draguns, & J. M. Fish (Eds.), Principles of multicultural counseling and therapy (pp. 295–330). New York: Taylor and Francis/Routledge.
Kuriansky, J. (2009). Communication and media in mass trauma: How mental health professionals can help. In J. T. Thome, M. Benyakar, & I. H. Taralli (Eds.), Intervention in destabilizing situations: Crises and traumas (pp. 195–232). Rio de Janeiro: Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria.
Kuriansky, J. (2011). Guidelines for mental health and psychosocial support in response to emergencies: Experience and encouragement for advocacy. The IAAP Bulletin. The International Association of Applied Psychology Covering the World of Applied Psychology, 23, 30–32.
Kuriansky, J. (2012). Our communities: Healing after environmental disasters. In D. G. Nemeth, R. B. Hamilton, & J. Kuriansky (Eds.), Living in an environmentally traumatized world: Healing ourselves and our planet (pp. 141–167). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Kuriansky, J. (2014). Statement as Invited Discussant. United Nations General Assembly Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature. The promotion of a balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development through harmony with nature. New York: United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber. June 22.
Kuriansky, J. (2013a). Japan Mission: Healing workshops by Dr Judy Kuriansky & team on tsunami/earthquake anniversary [Video file]. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2LXh8CY.
Kuriansky, J. (2013b). Superstorm sandy 2012: A psychologist first responder’s personal account and lessons learned about the impact on emotions and ecology. Ecospsychology, 5(S1), S-30–S-37. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2013.0010
Kuriansky, J. (2013c). Thoughts on Katrina vs. Sandy: Essays on nature-induced, human-induced, and nature + human-induced environmental trauma. Ecopsychology, 5(S1), S-20–S-26. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2013.0039
Kuriansky, J. (2015). DrJudy Kuriansky: Statement at World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Sendai Japan 2015, April 20 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2JS6Ao2.
Kuriansky, J. (Ed.). (2016). The psychosocial aspects of a deadly epidemic: What Ebola has taught us about holistic healing. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Kuriansky, J. (2017). Transforming trauma to healing, hope and happiness. [video file]. Access at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfdJ9jAomMw.
Kuriansky, J. (2018). Psychotherapy, psychology, psychiatry and international policy: Professional contributions and personal experiences about mental health and wellbeing, psychosocial resilience and peace. The International Journal of Psychotherapy, Counseling & Psychiatry: Theory, Research & Clinical Practice. Special Volume of the World Council for Psychotherapy 8th World Congress of Psychotherapy Conference 2017, April 2018. Accessible at: http://ijpcp.com/journal03/j03a06.htm.
Kuriansky, J. (2019a). Climate change and disaster recovery: Activities, achievements and contributions of the IAAP New York Team. Applied Psychology Around the World., 1(3), 50–56.
Kuriansky, J. (2019b). Expressive arts for helping children heal in crisis and disaster. In I. A. Serlin, S. Krippner, & K. Rockefeller (Eds.), Integrated health care for the traumatized: A whole person approach. Lathan, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.
Kuriansky, J. (2019c). Migration, refugees and mental health at the United Nations: Activities, achievements and contributions of the IAAP New York Team. Applied Psychology Around the World, 1(3), 79–87. Retrieved from https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/files/1082/apaw_vol1i3.pdf.
Kuriansky, J. (2019d). Reinforcement des Capacities dans les Pays à Faibles Resources après une Catastrophe: Empathie, Empowerment et Estime de Sol, dans la Formation des “Consolateurs”: Le Cas de Haiti (Building Capacity in Low Resource Settings Post-Disaster: Empowerment, Empathy and Esteem in Training Comforters in the Case of Haiti). In W. Jean-Charles (Ed.), Empathie en Haïti de la Recherche à la Practique à la Croieée de Différents Regards (pp. 207–230). Coconut Creek, FL: EducaVision.
Kuriansky, J. & Jean-Charles, W. (2012). Haiti Rebati: Update on activities rebuilding Haiti through the global kids connect project. IAAP Bulletin of the International Association of Applied Psychology, 24(2–3), part 21, 116–124. Retrieved from https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/documents/July2012.pdf.
Kuriansky, J., LeMay, M. & Kumar, A. (2015). Paradigm shifts in nature and well-being: principles, programs, and policies about the environment and climate change with actions by the United Nations for a sustainable future. In Nemeth, D.G., and Kuriansky, J.. Ecopsychology: Advances in the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Protection (11: Interventions and Policy), Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Kuriansky, J., Margevich, A., Jean-Charles, W., & Daisey, R. (2018). Resilience and recovery in natural disasters and epidemics: Comparisons, challenges, and lessons learned from train-the-trainer projects. In G. Rich & S. Sirikantraporn (Eds.), Human strengths and resilience: Developmental, cross-cultural, and international perspectives. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. https://www.amazon.com/Human-Strengths-Resilience-Developmental-Cross-Cultural/dp/1498554830/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=.
Kuriansky, J., & Nemeth, D. G. (2013). A model for post-environmental disaster wellness workshops: preparing individuals and communities for hurricane anniversary reactions. Ecopsychology, 5(S1), S-38–S-45. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2013.0006
Kuriansky, J., Polizer, Y., & Zinsou, J. (2016). Children and Ebola: A model resilience and empowerment training and workshop. In J. Kuriansky (Ed.), The psychosocial aspects of a deadly epidemic: What Ebola has taught us about holistic healing (pp. 175–214). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Kuriansky, J., Wu, L.-Y., Bao, C., Chand, D., Kong, S., Spooner, N., et al. (2015). Interventions by international and national organizations for psychosocial support after the Sichuan earthquake in China: A review and implications for sustainable development. In D. G. Nemeth, J. Kuriansky, & R. Hamilton (Eds.), Ecopsychology: Advances in the intersection of psychology and environmental protection, volume 11: Interventions and policy (pp. 171–231). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Kuriansky, J., & Zinsou, J. (2019). Mental health and Well-being at the United Nations: Activities, achievements and contributions of the IAAP New York team. Applied Psychology Around the World, 1(3), 16–28. Retrieved from https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/files/1082/apaw_vol1i3.pdf.
Kuriansky, J., Zinsou, J., Arunagiri, V., Douyon, C., Chiu, A., Jean-Charles, W., et al. (2015). Effects of helping in a train-the-trainers program for youth in the global kids connect project after the 2010 Haiti earthquake: A paradigm shift to sustainable development. In D. G. Nemeth, J. Kuriansky, & R. B. Hamilton (Eds.), Ecopsychology: Advances in the intersection of psychology and environmental protection (Vol. 11, pp. 135–169). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Praeger.
Luce, J. (2010). Dr. Judy on the Trauma of Disasters - like Haitian Earthquake. Huffington Post. Access at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dr-judy-on-the-trauma-of_b_461779.
Maeda, M., & Oe, M. (2015). The great East Japan earthquake: Tsunami and nuclear disaster. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Traumatic stress and long-term recovery: Coping with disasters and other negative life events (pp. 71–90). New York: Springer.
Masangkay, M. (2015). Psychologist connects disaster-affected children around the world. Japan Times. Retrieved March 31, 2019 from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/23/national/psychologist-connects-disaster-affected-children-around-the-world/#.WlKcemEbMyk.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Definition of policy. Access at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/policy.
Nemeth, D. G., Hamilton, R. B., & Kuriansky, J. (2015). Reflections and recommendations: The need for leadership, holistic thinking, and community involvement. Pp.419-424: The role of Community in the Intersection of psychology and environmental protection, contribution by Kuriansky. In D. G. Nemeth, J. Kuriansky, & R. B. Hamilton (Eds.), Ecopsychology: Advances from the intersection of psychology and environmental protection (Vol. 2, pp. 419–424). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, ABC-CLIO.
Nemeth, D. G., & Kuriansky, J. (Eds.). (2015). Ecopsychology: Advances from the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Protection (Vol. 2). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, ACB-CLIO.
Nemeth, D. G., Kuriansky, J., Reeder, K. P., Lewis, A., Marceaux, K., Whittington, T., et al. (2012). Addressing anniversary reactions of trauma through group process: The hurricane Katrina anniversary wellness workshops. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 62(1), 129–142.
Nemeth, D. G., & Olivier, T. W. (2017). Innovative approaches to individual and community resilience: From theory to practice. London: Elsevier.
Nemeth, D., Kuriansky, J., Olivier, T., Whittington, L. T., May, N., Hamilton, J., & Steger, A. (2011). Group Interventions for Disaster/Trauma Anniversary Reactions. Global Horizons: The Center for Policy adn Resilience, 4(1), 51–64.
Norris, F. H., Friedman, M. J., & Watson, P. J. (2002). 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part II. Summary and implications of the disaster mental health research. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 65(3), 240–260. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.65.3.240.20169
Norris, F. H., Friedman, M. J., Watson, P. J., Byrne, C. M., Diaz, E., & Kaniasty, K. (2002). 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry, 65(3), 207–239.
Phillips, J. R. (2015). Natural disasters: On wildfires and long-term recovery of community-residing adults. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Traumatic stress and long-term recovery: Coping with disasters and other negative life events (pp. 25–36). New York: Springer.
Rich, G., & Sirikantraporn, S. (Eds.). (2018). Human strengths and resilience: Developmental, cross-cultural, and international perspectives. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Silva Brown, J. (2015). On tornadoes: Storm exposure, coping styles and resilience. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Traumatic stress and long-term recovery: Coping with disasters and other negative life events (pp. 37–55). New York: Springer.
Silva, J. L., Marks, L. D., & Cherry, K. E. (2009). The psychology behind helping and prosocial behaviors: An examination from intention to action. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Lifespan perspectives on natural disasters: Coping with Katrina, Rita and other storms (pp. 219–240). New York: Springer.
UNISDR. (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–203). Retrieved May 3, 2019, from: https://www.unisdr.org/files/43291_sendaiframeworkfordrren.pdf.
United Nations. (2018). Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration - Intergovernmentally Negotiated and Agreed Outcome, 13 July 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2019 from https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180713_agreed_outcome_global_compact_for_migration.pdf.
United Nations General Assembly. (2019). A/RES/74/2. Political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage. Accessed November 1, 2019 from: https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/74/2.
United Nations General Assembly. (n.d.). Session 56 Resolution 195. A/RES/56/195. 21 Jan 2002. Retrieved July 21, 2019 from http://www.gdrc.org/doyourbit/disasters-A-RES-56-195.pdf.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2015). WCDRR: The Global Kids Connect Project: A model programme to promote resilience, Judy Kuriansky [Video File]. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2MALyw2.
Weems, C. F., & Banks, D. M. (2015). Severe stress and anxiety disorders in adolescence: The long-term effects of disasters. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Traumatic stress and long-term recovery: Coping with disasters and other negative life events (pp. 177–194). New York: Springer.
Weems, C. F., & Overstreet, S. (2009). An ecological-needs-based perspective of adolescent and youth emotional development in the context of disaster: Lessons learned from hurricane Katrina. In K. E. Cherry (Ed.), Lifespan perspectives on natural disasters: Coping with Katrina, Rita and other storms (pp. 27–44). New York: Springer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kuriansky, J. (2021). Psychosocial Recovery after Natural Disaster: International Advocacy, Policy, and Recommendations. In: Cherry, K.E., Gibson, A. (eds) The Intersection of Trauma and Disaster Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51525-6_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51525-6_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-51524-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-51525-6
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)