• Mental health of the elderly in the face of natural disasters
  • moosa Alavi,1,* Zeinab sadat moosavifard,2 Hamid reza Amini,3 hengam Nazari,4
    1. Bachelor of Nursing student, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas branch, Iran.
    2. Department of Nursing, BA.C, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
    3. Bachelor of Nursing student, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas branch, Iran.
    4. Bachelor of Nursing student, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas branch, Iran.


  • Introduction: Human confrontation and struggle with natural phenomena and unexpected events are among the major problems of human societies and have a history as long as the history of human life. Despite scientific and technological advances, humans have not yet been able to master these disasters and reduce the damage caused by them and the mortality rate. In this article, researchers have examined strategies for preventing the psychosocial consequences of natural disasters that directly affect the maintenance of order and the health of society.
  • Methods: This research study is a review and library study, and it has studied reputable sites, articles, theses, and reputable books that have examined issues related to the psychosocial consequences of natural disasters.
  • Results: After disasters, people are exposed to numerous stressors. The main factors are: 1- Types of physical injuries that cause pain and discomfort. 2- Lack of a safe place for comfort and rest. 3- Exposure to heartbreaking scenes; all of these factors cause great psychological pressure on people. The stress that comes on a person during disasters is very debilitating and can overwhelm anyone. With the occurrence of severe psychological stress caused by a disaster, reactions and symptoms arise in people and, if not addressed, can lead to chronic mental disorders. Some of the symptoms and nervous reactions are: 1- Anger 2- Anxiety 3- Hopelessness 4- Fear 5- Disappointment 6- Sadness about 2 to 3 months after the accident, the stage of facing reality begins. In this stage, survivors realize the depth of the disaster and the irreparability of a large amount of damage. Vague physical complaints without physical illness are among the effects of natural disasters. Psychological symptoms and reactions of people in disasters may continue even after a long time has passed. If these symptoms are severe or persistent and cause distress to the person, they require specialized intervention and psychosocial support.
  • Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that survivors need more psychological support. Because they may lose their spirits again, become depressed and anxious, and feel extremely lonely. Creating a spirit of hope and trust and being careful in the fair distribution of facilities at this stage are of great importance. In the absence of timely diagnosis and lack of recognition of the symptoms of any of the aforementioned disorders, the disease will stabilize in survivors and its treatment will be difficult. Timely intervention in accidents and disasters reduces its psychosocial complications, and prior preparation for the damage done plays a protective role against stress. Therefore, it is recommended that necessary educational programs be carried out for different segments of society and healthcare workers.
  • Keywords: Health, stress, natural disasters, psychological support