Integrating mental health and disaster preparedness in intervention
A randomized controlled trial with earthquake and flood-affected communities in Haiti
Abstract
Given the frequency of natural hazards in Haiti, disaster risk reduction is crucial. However, evidence suggests that many people exposed to prior disasters do not engage in disaster preparedness, even when they receive training and have adequate resources. This may be partially explained by a link between mental health symptoms and preparedness; however, these components are typically not integrated in intervention.
The current study assesses effectiveness of an integrated mental health and disaster preparedness intervention. This group-based model was tested in three earthquake-exposed and flood-prone communities (N = 480), across three time points, using a randomized controlled trial design. The 3-day community-based intervention was culturally-adapted, facilitated by trained Haitian lay mental health workers, and focused on enhancing disaster preparedness, reducing mental health symptoms, and fostering community cohesion.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme
Citation
James, L., Welton-Mitchell, C., Noel, J., & James, A. (2020). Integrating mental health and disaster preparedness in intervention: A randomized controlled trial with earthquake and flood-affected communities in Haiti. Psychological Medicine, 50(2), 342-352. doi:10.1017/S0033291719000163