Supporting mental wellbeing helps people recover after disasters

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-07-06 08:52

New Zealand

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Regaining a ‘sense of place’ - and supporting social ties and networks - can improve mental well-being after a disaster, suggests in-depth research with 25 residents following the Canterbury earthquakes. The researchers recommend economic, housing, and counselling support for people affected psychologically by the disaster, in order to boost access to social support and a sense of self-efficacy. They say the mental wellbeing of individuals needs to be better considered in long-term disaster recovery.