Psychosocial impact on survivors of Pune landslide disaster: A qualitative study

Pages: 747-748
Palash Mandal, Vigneshvaran, K., Sanjeev Kumar and K. Sekar (Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka )

Disasters strike at most unwanted hour and take troll from human life. During Second World War mental health issues of war survivors were noticed, though further this area was not much explored. Only in past decade this area got attention and lot of changes came into this field. Earlier mental health services were medical model based but now paradigm shifted from medical to bio-psycho-social model, intervention became more community based rather institutional and empowering to the survivors. In developing countries still there is lack of management strategy for assessment and providing basic services to the survivors. This study was aimed to assess psychosocial impact on survivors following the landslide and their need for long term rehabilitation. Indepth interview and observation method were used to collect data. Various kind of psychosocial response of survivors was identified such as loss of family members, property, livelihood, numbness, flashback, guilt feeling, hopelessness, elations, etc.