Repeated exposure to major disasters has long-term mental health impacts

A recent study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that people who have been exposed to major disasters show a reduction in mental health scores.

The research team found that the more experience individuals had with such events, the lower their mental health was.

The study's lead author, Garett Sansom, a research assistant professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, said that the study found that what does not kill you makes you stronger.

The Houston area is prone to hurricanes and flooding and is also prone to industrial emergencies. The results of the study were published.

Texas, one of the states most prone to natural disasters, experienced 33 major disasters from 2000 to 2020. The Houston area was impacted by hurricanes, winter weather, and flooding. The area has been impacted by emergencies such as explosions and chemical releases.

Natural disasters and emergencies from industrial facilities present a unique opportunity to observe the impacts.

Many communities along the Gulf Coast are exposed to natural and human-caused disasters.

The team used a short form health survey. The survey assessed cumulative impacts from exposure to evaluate changes over time and produced a score for both mental and physical health.

The majority of the respondents reported that they have experienced hazardous events. Hurricanes and flooding were the most experienced events, followed by industrial fires, chemical spills and tornados.

The team found that when individuals experienced two or more events over the past five years, their MCS averages fell below expected national levels.

Sansom said that mental health is often overlooked in responding to and preparing for hazard exposures. Mental conditions need to be accounted for in order to reach community resilience efforts.

The results of the study show the long-term mental impact hazard. The need for public health interventions for these individuals as well as the communities where they reside is underscored by them.

Lindsay Sansom is a graduate student in Occupational Safety and Health at Texas A&M University and is one of the co-authors.

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Texas A&M University provided the materials. Tim wrote the original. Content can be edited for style and length.