We respond to disasters
by empowering community
members to be the difference
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE
of early intervention in tackling mental health disorders
Restoring emotional health
Long after first responders have left and the publicity has died down
Sustaining communties
Our team focuses on restoring children’s emotional health after a disaster. We focus on sustaining community health by addressing the emotional needs of the most vulnerable. We contribute to the communities we serve by creating a sustainable response that addresses affective disturbances in children in an effort to abate symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Our partners understand that immediately after a disaster, children may experience confusing, intense and frightening feelings or thoughts. These reactions are a common response to an extraordinary situation. While most people recover after disasters by drawing on their own strengths and the support of others and gradually rebuild their lives and achieve a sense of well-being again, others struggle to return to previous levels of functioning and will need emotional support to recover.
GET INFORMATION ABOUT TRAINING
Restoring emotional health
Long after first responders have left and the publicity has died down
Sustaining communities
Our team focuses on restoring children’s emotional health after a disaster. We focus on sustaining community health by addressing the emotional needs of the most vulnerable. We contribute to the communities we serve by creating a sustainable response that addresses affective disturbances in children in an effort to abate symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Our partners understand that immediately after a disaster, children may experience confusing, intense and frightening feelings or thoughts. These reactions are a common response to an extraordinary situation. While most people recover after disasters by drawing on their own strengths and the support of others and gradually rebuild their lives and achieve a sense of well-being again, others struggle to return to previous levels of functioning and will need emotional support to recover.
GET INFORMATION ABOUT TRAINING
Recovery takes time
All aspects of recovery from a natural disaster take time. It can take years for individuals to recover financially and emotionally. An important part of recovery is allowing time to mourn and to process and experience grief; whether it be for lost loved ones, lost businesses, lost homes and a lost way of life. Helping victims of disaster – especially children maintain a daily routine is a very important aspect of recovery. More cases of PTSD are often diagnosed one year after a natural disaster than in the immediate aftermath of when the disaster struck. Studies have shown that suicidal thoughts doubled more than a year after a natural disaster.
Recovery takes time
All aspects of recovery from a natural disaster take time. It can take years for individuals to recover financially and emotionally. An important part of recovery is allowing time to mourn and to process and experience grief; whether it be for lost loved ones, lost businesses, lost homes and a lost way of life. Helping victims of disaster – especially children maintain a daily routine is a very important aspect of recovery. More cases of PTSD are often diagnosed one year after a natural disaster than in the immediate aftermath of when the disaster struck. Studies have shown that suicidal thoughts doubled more than a year after a natural disaster.
Immediate Needs
Children and the elderly are the two groups most at risk following a natural disaster as they experience more trauma than other age groups. Children in particular internalize the fear from a disaster very deeply, which can result in nightmares, flashbacks and trouble behaving in school. Symptoms such as these should be closely monitored as they can eventually lead to depression, anxiety and PTSD. Studies have shown that children who do not receive adequate professional help after a disaster and develop PTSD, tend to have more problems going into adulthood and often struggle with continuing education and finding an occupation following termination of studies.
Immediate Needs
Children and the elderly are the two groups most at risk following a natural disaster as they experience more trauma than other age groups. Children in particular internalize the fear from a disaster very deeply, which can result in nightmares, flashbacks and trouble behaving in school. Symptoms such as these should be closely monitored as they can eventually lead to depression, anxiety and PTSD. Studies have shown that children who do not receive adequate professional help after a disaster and develop PTSD, tend to have more problems going into adulthood and often struggle with continuing education and finding an occupation following termination of studies.
Short Term Effects
The short term mental and emotional effects of a disaster differ from person to person. Individuals are struggling with dealing with loss of livelihood, loss of their home and the chaos and debris surrounding them in the immediate aftermath and the debilitating fear that can follow in the footsteps of a disaster. Children may exhibit increased, irrational concern over friends and family members, emotional distress and heightened anxiety. They may experience numbness, difficulty making decisions and increased dependency or ‘clingy’ behavior toward adults and caregivers. These symptoms can negatively affect academic performance and friendships.
Short Term Effects
The short term mental and emotional effects of a disaster differ from person to person. Individuals are struggling with dealing with loss of livelihood, loss of their home and the chaos and debris surrounding them in the immediate aftermath and the debilitating fear that can follow in the footsteps of a disaster. Children may exhibit increased, irrational concern over friends and family members, emotional distress and heightened anxiety. They may experience numbness, difficulty making decisions and increased dependency or ‘clingy’ behavior toward adults and caregivers. These symptoms can negatively affect academic performance and friendships.
Long Term Effects
The long term effects of a natural disaster can range from coping with the loss of loved ones to dealing with emotional trauma such as depression and PTSD. Studies have shown an increase in stress, mental illness and increased suicide risk among individuals who have lived through a natural disaster. Particularly for children, traumatic events such as a natural disaster that are experienced during childhood can have negative effects into the future, such as increased substance use, depression, heart disease and cancer.
Long Term Effects
The long term effects of a natural disaster can range from coping with the loss of loved ones to dealing with emotional trauma such as depression and PTSD. Studies have shown an increase in stress, mental illness and increased suicide risk among individuals who have lived through a natural disaster. Particularly for children, traumatic events such as a natural disaster that are experienced during childhood can have negative effects into the future, such as increased substance use, depression, heart disease and cancer.