Article Title: Repercussion of Flood of 2010 on the Mental Health of Pakistani Victims
Author(s): Nafja Fatima & Shabbir Rana
Institute(s): Department of Psychology, GC University Lahore; Department of Psychology, MAO College Lahore
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2017, Vol. 15, No.1, 42-52
Correspondence Address: Nafja Fatima, PhD scholar, Department of Psychology, GC University Lahore (Pakistan), Email: nafjafatima@yahoo.com
Abstract
The flood of 2010 is considered to be one of the biggest natural disasters in the history of Pakistan. The present qualitative study was conducted to investigate the repercussions of flood in the form of psychosocial effects on the mental health of victims. Data were collected from the news about this flood published in 492 issues of the three leading English newspapers: The Nation, The Dawn, and The News (from 21.07.10 to 31.12.10). Text based content analysis was employed for data analysis and interpretation. Results revealed that flood adversely affected 78 out of 141 districts of Pakistan. Infinite number of flood victims lost their family members, loved ones, homes, crops, animals, valuable possessions, property, jobs, and thus experienced extreme social and mental trauma that adversely affected their mental health. They were suffering from several psychological symptoms as anxiety, stress, helplessness, depression, aggression, phobia, inability to concentrate, and many psychosomatic problems etc. Although it was noted that Government, army, citizens, international community and media had played a vital role in the rehabilitation of flood victims. The results of this study revealed that much has to be done to adequately deal with such a devastating humanitarian crisis. It is important to improve their reliance and self efficacy. Especially, there is a dire need to implement psychological interventions to minimize the intensity of the psychosocial effects which have adversely affected the mental health of the victims.
Keywords: Psychosocial effects, disasters, floods, victims, mental health, coping.
