James M Shultz1, David Forbes2, David Wald3, Fiona Kelly4, Helena M Solo-Gabriele5, Alexa Rosen1, Zelde Espinel1, Andrew McLean6, Oscar Bernal7, Yuval Neria8. 1. Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness (DEEP Center), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. 2. Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia. 3. US Geological Survey and Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA. 4. Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 5. Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, College of Engineering, Coral Gables, Florida, USA. 6. Department of Neuroscience, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota, USA. 7. Public Health Programs, University of the Andes, Bogota, Colombia, USA. 8. Trauma and PTSD Program, Columbia University, and Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the largest earthquake in its history. The undersea earthquake launched a tsunami that inundated much of Japan's eastern coastline and damaged nuclear power plants, precipitating multiple reactor meltdowns. We examined open-source disaster situation reports, news accounts, and disaster-monitoring websites to gather event-specific data to conduct a trauma signature analysis of the event. METHODS: The trauma signature analysis included a review of disaster situation reports; the construction of a hazard profile for the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation threats; enumeration of disaster stressors by disaster phase; identification of salient evidence-based psychological risk factors; summation of the trauma signature based on exposure to hazards, loss, and change; and review of the mental health and psychosocial support responses in relation to the analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to this triple-hazard event resulted in extensive damage, significant loss of life, and massive population displacement. Many citizens were exposed to multiple hazards. The extremity of these exposures was partially mitigated by Japan's timely, expert-coordinated, and unified activation of an evidence-based mental health response. CONCLUSIONS: The eastern Japan disaster was notable for its unique constellation of compounding exposures. Examination of the trauma signature of this event provided insights and guidance regarding optimal mental health and psychosocial responses. Japan orchestrated a model response that reinforced community resilience.
OBJECTIVES: On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the largest earthquake in its history. The undersea earthquake launched a tsunami that inundated much of Japan's eastern coastline and damaged nuclear power plants, precipitating multiple reactor meltdowns. We examined open-source disaster situation reports, news accounts, and disaster-monitoring websites to gather event-specific data to conduct a trauma signature analysis of the event. METHODS: The trauma signature analysis included a review of disaster situation reports; the construction of a hazard profile for the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation threats; enumeration of disaster stressors by disaster phase; identification of salient evidence-based psychological risk factors; summation of the trauma signature based on exposure to hazards, loss, and change; and review of the mental health and psychosocial support responses in relation to the analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to this triple-hazard event resulted in extensive damage, significant loss of life, and massive population displacement. Many citizens were exposed to multiple hazards. The extremity of these exposures was partially mitigated by Japan's timely, expert-coordinated, and unified activation of an evidence-based mental health response. CONCLUSIONS: The eastern Japan disaster was notable for its unique constellation of compounding exposures. Examination of the trauma signature of this event provided insights and guidance regarding optimal mental health and psychosocial responses. Japan orchestrated a model response that reinforced community resilience.
Authors: James M Shultz; Toni Cela; Louis Herns Marcelin; Maria Espinola; Ilva Heitmann; Claudia Sanchez; Arielle Jean Pierre; Cheryl YunnShee Foo; Kip Thompson; Philip Klotzbach; Zelde Espinel; Andreas Rechkemmer Journal: Disaster Health Date: 2016-11-28
Authors: James M Shultz; Dana Rose Garfin; Zelde Espinel; Ricardo Araya; Maria A Oquendo; Milton L Wainberg; Roberto Chaskel; Silvia L Gaviria; Anna E Ordóñez; Maria Espinola; Fiona E Wilson; Natalia Muñoz García; Angela Milena Gómez Ceballos; Yanira Garcia-Barcena; Helen Verdeli; Yuval Neria Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Lorenzo Paladino; Richard P Sharpe; Sagar C Galwankar; Farhad Sholevar; Christine Marchionni; Thomas J Papadimos; Elisabeth Paul; Bhakti Hansoti; Michael Firstenberg; Manish Garg; Mindy Watson; Ric A Baxter; Stanislaw P Stawicki Journal: J Glob Infect Dis Date: 2017 Apr-Jun