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Resilience and Well-Being Among the Survivors of Natural Disasters and Conflicts

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Handbook of Health and Well-Being

Abstract

Disaster response requires a focus on resiliency and well-being rather than just absence of disease. While medical attention is necessary in the immediate aftermath of disaster, well-being involves attention to the psycho-social and spiritual determinants of health. The scientific study of disasters from Boston’s Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire to the Bhopal Chemical spill have identified features and approaches that have been refined to prove useful in subsequent disasters. The authors illustrate best practices of mental health and psycho-social support drawing on lessons learned and applied from a number of disasters including the Gujarat Riots of 2002, the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), the Iraq War (2003 onward), the Great Sichuan Earthquake (2008), the Haiti Earthquake (2010), the Japan Triple Disasters (2011), the Syrian refugee crisis (2015 onward), and the 2017 hurricanes in the Caribbean. This chapter draws a contour of the survivors of different disasters from the historical perspective touching upon the different interventions done for strengthening resiliency among the diverse group of survivors through community intervention strategies for enhancing their well-being. Focus on survival after disaster is essential, but the complex negative life events produce traumatic stress and emotional turmoil that challenge coping abilities. Thus, resilience building activities are essential to build the capacity of the survivors to bounce-back with enhanced capabilities, better functionalities, higher level of adjustment and satisfaction, and the confidence to deal with future eventualities. Thus resiliency building activities are essential components of psychosocial support programs with a focus of enhancing well-being.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India

    Subhasis Bhadra

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Vice-Chair for Education, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Allen R. Dyer

Authors
  1. Subhasis Bhadra
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  2. Allen R. Dyer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India

    Sibnath Deb

  2. Florida, FL, USA

    Brian A. Gerrard

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Bhadra, S., Dyer, A.R. (2022). Resilience and Well-Being Among the Survivors of Natural Disasters and Conflicts. In: Deb, S., Gerrard, B.A. (eds) Handbook of Health and Well-Being. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8263-6_27

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