reply to each post with 100 words as if you are me and reply hello (person name)
no generic replies. Each reply should have seprate references
post 1
robert gallagher posted Jun 13, 2024 8:55 AM
1. Can you describe disaster preparedness and challenges with regard to special populations?
Understanding how to build resiliency is the key to being prepared for man-made natural disasters like wars (North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (2023) Resilience comes from both the individual and the people of a Country preparing for, resisting, respond to and quickly recover from shocks and disruptions of being invaded by a foreign Country (NATO, 2023). The special population I would like to discuss for this week is violence against women in Countries where a Country such as Ukraine was invaded by a foreign enemy in Russia. I wanted to explore how women in Ukraine are disproportionality and uniquely affected by wars.
Women are more likely to experience domestic violence in times of war (Carll, 2007). Women are also more likely to stay with a domestic partner when they are financially dependent on a partner, there are threats to their life, and there is a lack of support (Carll, 2007). All these risk factors are increased in times of war. Another risk for women in times are war is the increased fears and actual rapes of women in war zones. Rape of women increase during times of conflict (Carll, 2007). Carll (2007) suggests people who invade other people’s countries, like the Russians who have invaded Ukraine, use the rape of Ukrainian women to install shame and humiliation to undermine and collapse the social bonds of the citizens of that country. This rape of Ukraine women by Russian soldiers is justified by the idea of ethnic cleansing (Carll, 2007). Taylor (2022) noted that the rape of Ukraine women has significantly increased since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Carl (2007) noted how women and children are the people most likely to be put in human trafficking in times of war. The United National Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2022) noted that vulnerabilities to trafficking in persons arise from the impacts of conflict: lack of income-generation opportunities, interruption in the provision of essential services, issues with the rule of law, and internal displacement which makes helping these women even more challenging (UNODC (2022). The lack of access to income and to essential services and goods, including food, water, heating, and electricity continues to pose challenges for discloser of trauma as these women are focusing on their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has displaced many women internally making it hard to find them for psychological services (Taylor, 2022). Taylor (2022) has also suggested that Ukraine women have not accessed resources primarily due to 1. they have died or 2. because the shame and trauma they feel makes it too difficult to talk about it out loud.
These services are critical because these Ukraine women are at heightened vulnerability to physical and sexual violence, trauma, and other abuses (UNOCD, 2022). Women are also more at risk of being sex trafficked and labor trafficked making it harder to access these women for services as well. If these women are not trafficked many have fled Ukraine. UNOCD (2022) noted half of Ukrainians who fled to European countries adult women, 40% percent are children and 10% are adult men. Again, this makes it harder to access resources for these women.
2). How does a disaster and trauma-related disorders impact special populations?
Bethel, Burke, and Britt (2013) and Yousef et al. (2021) noted how man-made disasters like wars create psychological distress, loss of property, death, and more illnesses. Women disproportionality in the world have less income than men. When a war breaks out women are less prepared than men economically and have fewer financial resources to endure during a war making them more at risk to be exploited (Bethel, Burke, and Britt (2013). Psychologically women who are involved in wartime are at significant risk of PTSD (Carll, 2007; Yourself et al., 2021). PTSD is a re-experiencing of symptoms, avoidance and numbing symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms (Carll, 2007). In wartimes, women are at significant risk of PTSD due to having their lives threatened, physical injury due to rape, imprisonment, kidnapping, torture, increased fear or sense of helplessness, and other scarring events when the foreign invaders bomb their Country and take over land once ruled by people within their ethnicity like in the case of Ukraine (Yousef et al., 2021).
3). Why do special populations have more barriers to mental health care following a disaster?
UNODC (2022) noted that people living in conflict zones, like women in Ukraine, may adopt negative coping strategies to gain access to food and other supplies, or for their safety and security. UNODC (2022) also noted a major barrier to access to women in Ukraine is the ability to find these women. Many Ukraine women who like Ukraine for Western Europe returned for several reasons and can no longer access mental health services. UNODC (2022) reported that Ukrainian people have crossed Ukraine’s borders back into the country 8.7 million times, for reasons including temporary trips to check on family, property, and businesses, joining family, accessing economic opportunities, and perception of safety in specific area.
To stay in contact with families whether women have fled Ukraine or have returned looking for their families increases their risk of online sexual exploitation and abuse, as many Ukrainians use messaging apps and social media (particularly Viber, Telegram, and Facebook) to seek support, and sex traffickers carry out recruitment of victims and advertise exploitative services online (UNODC, 2022). Seeking out support mental health support increases their risk of being trafficked as traffickers are creating fake mental health sites to capture these women (UNODC, 2022). These mental health services, however, are important as Chon (2021) noted that individuals who have experienced trafficking may exhibit signs of anxiety, emotional numbness, memory loss, and depression. They may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a dependence on substance or alcohol use, and/or eating disorder (Chon, 2021).
Chon (2021) did offer some recommendations for crisis intervention workers that can help these women in Ukraine who are having mental health issues due to the issues mentioned in this post. Chon (2021) calls for services to be more trauma-informed, addressing the unique needs of women, like these Ukraine women. Chon (2021) reported examples of special considerations that crisis workers should know include Ukraine women who have experienced trafficking often find it hard to establish a relationship of trust with their providers due to previous experiences of betrayal and abuse. Trauma-informed mental health care should be person-centered and culturally appropriate, empowering these women with the agency to make choices that work best for their recovery (Chon, 2021).
Bibliography
Bethel, J., Burke, S., & Britt, A. (2013). Disparity in disaster preparedness between racial/ethnic groups. Disaster Health. 8;1(2):110-116. doi: 10.4161/dish.27085
Bradley S. (2018). Domestic and Family Violence in Post-Conflict Communities: International Human Rights Law and the State’s Obligation to Protect Women and Children. Health Human Rights. 20(2):123-136
Carll, E. (2007). Trauma Psychology : Issues in Violence, Disaster, Health, and Illness [2 Volumes]. Praeger.
Chon, K. (2021). Mental Health Resources for Human Trafficking Survivors and Allies. Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2021/10/mental-health-resources-human-trafficking-survivors-and-allies
Taylor, C. (2022). Ukrainian women are reporting rape by Russian soldiers but is it a war crime, a crime against humanity or even genocide? Retrieved from www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-04/ukraine-rape-war-crime-international-law-genocide-russia/101173406
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2022). Conflict in Ukraine: Key Evidence on Risk of Trafficking in Persoons and Smuggling of Migrants. Retrieved from www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/tip/Conflict_Ukraine_TIP_2022.pdf
Yousef, L., Ebrahim, O., AlNahr, M., Mohsen, F., Ibrahim, N., & Sawaf, B. (2021) War-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder prevalence among Syrian university students. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 24;12(1):1954774. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1954774
Post 2
Aloha Classmates and Dr. King,
Special groups, like the elderly, children, people with impairments, and non-English speakers, often confront specific disaster preparation issues. These populations may have unique requirements that are not often addressed in standard disaster preparation efforts. Individuals with disabilities, for example, may need particular accommodations, such as accessible shelters or communication equipment, in order to react to and recover from a disaster. Similarly, non-English speakers may have difficulty accessing critical information and services during and after a crisis if materials are not accessible in their native language. In addition to these individual problems, there are wider systemic concerns affecting disaster preparation for vulnerable people. As previously stated, access to mental health care is often restricted for these individuals, exacerbating the emotional impact of a catastrophe. Furthermore, socioeconomic constraints such as poverty and a lack of access to healthcare might impede particular groups’ capacity to adequately prepare for and recover from disasters. Without proper assistance and resources, unique groups may face even more difficult problems in the aftermath of a catastrophe. A lack of culturally appropriate services, as well as language challenges, may further isolate these populations, making it harder for them to get the assistance they need. Addressing these systemic difficulties and providing personalized assistance for vulnerable groups is critical to ensuring that everyone can successfully prepare for and recover from catastrophes.
Disasters and trauma-related diseases may have a significant influence on certain communities, aggravating existing vulnerabilities and posing new issues. Individuals with disabilities, for example, may have difficulty accessing critical medical treatment or accommodations during and after a catastrophe, resulting in increased health risks and psychological suffering. Furthermore, individuals from disadvantaged populations may face increased prejudice and stigma in the aftermath of a disaster, exacerbating their distress and limiting their capacity to seek care. Emergency response and recovery operations must include the particular needs and experiences of special populations in order to effectively address the effects of disasters on these groups.
Several factors contribute to unique groups experiencing increased difficulties with mental health treatment after an event. One cause is the absence of culturally competent services and providers who understand the specific problems and demands of these populations. Also, inadequate access to resources, such as transportation or insurance coverage, might keep people from seeking and getting the assistance they need. Individuals may be discouraged from getting help due to the stigma associated with mental health in particular groups, which may include fears of judgment or discrimination. Overall, a combination of multiple socioeconomic determinants of health might make it more difficult for particular groups to get mental health treatment during a crisis. While it is vital to examine the specific issues that various groups confront, it is equally critical to recognize that stigma and limited access to resources are not the main obstacles to mental health treatment. Structural disparities and institutional concerns also play an important role in preventing people from accessing the assistance they need during times of crisis. Individuals from underrepresented areas, for example, may encounter language hurdles or a lack of culturally competent mental health treatments, making it difficult for them to get adequate care. In addition, structural concerns such as a lack of insurance coverage or a scarcity of mental health practitioners in certain locations may compound the difficulties that unique groups confront in accessing the help they need during times of crisis. These obstacles may exacerbate people’s already challenging situations, resulting in feelings of loneliness and despair. Without proper resources and support networks, people in disadvantaged areas are forced to deal with their mental health issues on their own, continuing the cycle of inequity and poverty. Addressing these structural difficulties and creating policies that emphasize equitable access to mental health services are critical steps toward ensuring that all people, regardless of background, get the assistance they need during times of crisis.
References
Gilbert, N. A., Savoia, E., Elqura, L., & Crowther, S. M. (2009, March). Emergency preparedness for vulnerable populations: People with special health-care needs. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2646456/
Makwana, N. (2019, October). Disaster and its impact on mental health: A narrative review. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6857396/
Somasundaram, D. J., & Vandeput, W. (2006). Management of trauma in special populations after a disaster. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16602818/
post 3
Brianna Boyd posted Jun 19, 2024 7:37 AM
Good morning class and Dr. King,
1. The level of disaster preparedness varies based on many factors. Factors may include socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, elderly, and disabled. These individuals may experience challenges associated with disaster preparedness and may fit into multiple categories. Regarding socioeconomic status, individuals may not have the funds to store food and clean water to be readily available. Racial and ethnic minorities may experience hardship with preparedness due to cultural differences, non-English speaking, and may not believe there is any risk associated with the disaster. The elderly and disabled individuals may not have the funds or mobility to prepare for disaster and may rely on others to do it for them; if they do not have that support system they may feel the challenges more deeply.
2. The disaster and trauma-related disorders impacts may appear differently depending on the circumstances. For example, for racial and ethnic minorities, there may be some cultural differences that prevent them from receiving or seeking care. Additionally, health care is not always equally available to all. If treatment is offered or provided, other challenges such as, individuals being mistrusting of those they do not know, and language barriers.
3. Special populations may have hardships in trying to receive treatment due to experiencing discrimination, being unable to afford treatment, and if they are living in an area populated enough to receive outside support. With all factors considered, these reasons are why it is crucial to provide care not only for the general population but also to ensure that special populations have treatment options equally available.
Bethel, J. W., Burke, S. C., & Britt, A. F. (2013). Disparity in disaster preparedness between racial/ethnic groups. Disaster health, 1(2), 110-116.
Carll, E. (2007). Trauma Psychology : Issues in Violence, Disaster, Health, and Illness [2 Volumes]. Praeger.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Cultural and linguistic competency in disaster preparedness and response fact sheet.
