Disaster and Mental Health Concepts Quiz

Study Notes

Disasters are serious disruptions affecting communities or societies, leading to widespread losses surpassing local coping abilities.
Emergencies require prompt response and resources to avoid escalation into disasters.

Disasters greatly affect individuals, families, and communities, resulting in loss of life, injury, displacement, and emotional trauma.
Mental health impacts include stress, anxiety, and psychological disorders, necessitating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
Vulnerable groups require special consideration in emergency responses to protect their rights and wellbeing.

A hazard refers to any process, phenomenon, or activity that potentially causes harm, including loss of life and economic disruptions.
Natural hazards arise from geological processes (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions), hydro-meteorological events (e.g., floods, storms), and biological phenomena (e.g., pandemics).

Technological hazards stem from industrial accidents and failures (e.g., oil spills, nuclear accidents).
Armed conflicts create dangerous conditions that lead to widespread destruction (e.g., terrorism, civil war).
Everyday hazards, especially for children, include household items that pose risks (e.g., choking hazards, electrical outlets).

Not all hazards result in disasters; for example, a typhoon hitting an uninhabited island does not constitute a disaster.
A disaster emerges when a hazard causes significant harm to life, livelihoods, and properties.

Disaster risk is the potential for human, material, economic, or environmental losses during hazard occurrence.
It is influenced by hazard strength and the community’s exposure, vulnerability, and capacity to handle the hazard.
The disaster risk relationship can be articulated as:
- ( R = \frac{Hazard \times Vulnerability \times Exposure}{Capacity} )
Vulnerability refers to community characteristics that increase susceptibility to hazards, while exposure indicates the likelihood of experiencing hazard events.