Disaster Relief Mental Health Resources: Community-Based Interventions and Implications for the Middle East

Abstract

A key part of recovery, relief, and rebuilding following a disaster is access to relevant mental health resources. While there is a body of work surrounding evidence-based best practices, there is often a gap between what is theoretically correct and what is utilized in practice. In addition, many resources are focused on mainstream recovery and often neglect outreach to vulnerable populations. Many programs, both economically and socially/emotionally, are also initiated outside of affected communities without direct input from those impacted, this can cause the survivors to become disempowered in the process and become potential bystanders of their own recovery. The purpose of this chapter is trifold to (1) review current disaster relief mental health practices with reference to the Middle East; (2) explore the theories of critical consciousness, international disaster relief, and community-based participatory research; and, (3) apply these three strategies to potential future mental health actions in the recovery, relief, and rebuilding stages following a disaster. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)