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The Psychosocial and Mental Health of People Who Are Affected by Conflict, Catastrophes, Terrorism, Adversity and Displacement

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Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine

Abstract

This chapter is in four parts. It introduces salient topics that we hope are sufficient for people who are starting out in responding to the healthcare needs of people who are affected by conflict and catastrophes. We do not claim that this chapter is a comprehensive account.

Chiefly, it provides an overview of the psychosocial needs and the psychosocial care and of mental healthcare that people require who are affected, directly or indirectly, by catastrophes, disasters, major incidents, extreme events, terrorism, CBRNe events and adversity. It applies also to people who are refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs) or asylum seekers. There is a plethora of terms used and, arguably, “natural disasters, technological catastrophes, acts of terrorism result in [broadly] similar [psychosocial] consequences” [p. 200]. Therefore, in this chapter, we refer to all of these situations as major incidents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Cardiff, Newport, Wales, UK

    Richard Williams OBE, TD, MB, ChB, FRCPsych, FRCPCH, DPM, DMCC, MIHM, MIoD

  2. TyBryn, St Cadoc’s Hospital, Caerleon, Newport, Wales, NP18 3XQ, UK

    Richard Williams OBE, TD, MB, ChB, FRCPsych, FRCPCH, DPM, DMCC, MIHM, MIoD

  3. Healthplanning Ltd, The Old Clinic, 40 College Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1QB, UK

    Verity J. Kemp BA(Hons), MS

  4. Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB10 7QB, Scotland, UK

    David A. Alexander MA(Hons), PhD, FBPS, FRSM, (Hon)FRCPsych

Authors
  1. Richard Williams OBE, TD, MB, ChB, FRCPsych, FRCPCH, DPM, DMCC, MIHM, MIoD
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  2. Verity J. Kemp BA(Hons), MS
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  3. David A. Alexander MA(Hons), PhD, FBPS, FRSM, (Hon)FRCPsych
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Williams OBE, TD, MB, ChB, FRCPsych, FRCPCH, DPM, DMCC, MIHM, MIoD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiac and Vascular Sciences, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom

    James M. Ryan

  2. Buma Health Care Services, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Adriaan P.C.C. Hopperus Buma

  3. Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Center for Distaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, Uniformed Services, University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Charles W. Beadling

  4. Defence Medical Services-Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

    Aroop Mozumder

  5. Department of Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    David M. Nott

  6. The Norman M. Rich Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services, University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Norman M. Rich

  7. Formerly of Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Walter Henny

  8. Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom

    David MacGarty

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Williams, R., Kemp, V.J., Alexander, D.A. (2014). The Psychosocial and Mental Health of People Who Are Affected by Conflict, Catastrophes, Terrorism, Adversity and Displacement. In: Ryan, J., et al. Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2927-1_49

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2927-1_49

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