Psychosocial support after natural disasters in Iceland-implementation and utilization

• Main Authors: Thordardottir, Edda Bjork, Gudmundsdottir, Berglind, Petursdottir, Gudrun, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur Anna, Hauksdottir, Arna
• Other Authors: 1 Univ Iceland, Sch Hlth Sci, Fac Med, Ctr Publ Hlth Sci, Reykjavik, Iceland 2 Landspitali Natl Univ Hosp Iceland, Mental Hlth Serv, Reykjavik, Iceland Show more 3 Univ Iceland, Sch Hlth Sci, Fac Med, Reykjavik, Iceland Show more 4 Univ Iceland, Fac Nursing, Reykjavik, Iceland Show more 5 Univ Iceland, Inst Sustainabil Studies, Reykjavik, Iceland 6 Harvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Boston, MA USA Show more 7 Karolinska Inst, Dept Med Epidemiol & Biostat, Stockholm, Sweden
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science 2018
• Subjects: Áfallahjálp; Áfallastreita; Náttúruhamfarir; PSC12; Disasters; Psychosocial Support Systems; Stress Disorders; Post-Traumatic; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/620469

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink below Introduction: To date, increased attention has focused on how early psychological support after trauma may reduce suffering and limit the chronicity of psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have assessed the reach or effectiveness of post-disaster interventions. The population of Iceland is frequently exposed to natural disasters and since 1995 extensive psychosocial support has been provided to disaster survivors in the country. The aim of this study is to assess the implementation, utilization, and perception of psychosocial support offered in the wake of three natural disasters in Iceland and to assess the association between utilization of support and PTSD symptoms. Method: Three population-based studies on inhabitants affected by avalanches in 1995 (n = 399), an earthquake in 2008 (n = 1301) and a volcanic eruption in 2010 (n = 1615) were utilized. Follow-up time varied from 2 months post-disaster (earthquake) to 16 years post-disaster (avalanches). Questionnaire data was used in all three cohorts to assess utilization of psychosocial support and psychological morbidity. Response rate in the studies ranged from 71% to 82%. PTSD symptoms were assessed with validated measurement tools in all studies. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare utilization and perception of psychosocial support with regard to PTSD symptoms. Results: Utilization of psychosocial support varied between disaster cohorts (16% after the 2008 earthquake; 26% after the 2010 eruption and 37% after 1995 avalanches). Satisfaction with support increased over the years, with 53% of respondents reporting being satisfied or very satisfied with the support after the 1995 avalanches; 68% after the 2008 earthquake and 82% after the 2010 eruption. Only in the disaster cohort with the shortest follow-up time (2 months) were PTSD symptoms negatively associated with utilization of psychosocial support ...