Needs Survey On Psychological Service After Natural Disaster Among Urban Residents

ObjectivesUnderstand post-disaster mental health services and demand conditions of natural disasters which residents of some cities experienced from January 2007 to March 2009, explore the related factors affecting demand of the residents; provide a scientific reference for the establishment of post-disaster psychological crisis intervention and other psychological health service system.MethodsAccording to the classification of public emergencies and the distribution of public emergencies happened from 2005 to 2007, taking into account the eastern, central and western regions, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guangdong, Chongqing and Xinjiang were selected; 9600 residents aged from 15 to 60 were selected for the survey using multi-stage sub-stratified random sampling method; survey methodology is questionnaire survey with face to face interview. This survey includes four parts: basic information of the respondents and the situation of natural disasters from January 2007 to March 2009 which have had the greatest impact on the respondents; the emotional and physical state of the respondents 1 month after the events; Coping style that respondents have; Evaluation of the status of post-disaster mental health services and subjective needs. Use SAS 9.1 software for data description and analysis.ResultsIn this study, 9227 valid questionnaires were collected, and the effective rate was 95.42%.The questionnaires involving natural disaster events is a total of 6243 cases. The sex and age distribution of the 6243 residents are relatively balanced, and the Han nationality accounts for 91.23%; the married accounts for 71.25%; the medium educational level accounts for 60.08%; unemployed accounts for 16.33% ; business services staff accounts for 14.98%. Survey in January 2007 to March 2009 shows that the natural disasters having the greatest impact on the residents surveyed in turn are earthquake disaster, meteorological disaster, marine disaster, flood and drought and cotton pests, forest fires and other rice pests etc. The distribution of the occurrence of various natural disaster events from the survey period is statistically different(χ~2=1549.08, P<0.0001), mainly concentrated on the 6 months to 1 year preceding the survey. The distribution of the role residents playing in the variety of natural disasters is statistically different (Fisher's Exact Probability, P <0.0001), mainly indirectly understanding the disaster events through the media (84.80%).The distribution of the impact of the physical and emotional affected by natural disasters is statistically different (χ~2=555.10,P <0.0001):The proportions of the residents affected physically and emotionally are respectively 68.92% and 88.92%. The distribution of the impact on the body and emotion of the residents surveyed by natural disasters is statistically different.In one month after the incident, the incidence rates of the bodily reactions, psychological reactions, physical and mental reactions are respectively 68.14%, 90.21% and 91.54%. The physical and emotional reactions of those who act as a role of different types in natural disasters are different, and the sex, age, and educational level of residents may be factors in their physical and mental reactions.While psychosomatic reactions appearing, 89.29% of those experiencing natural disasters take the deal, which take positive and negative coping counting for respectively 87.49% and 62.09%.Active coping style mainly consist of"Thinking happy things"(67.14%),"Trying to accept reality"(63.76%),"Finding someone to talk to"(63.74%), etc, while the coping style of seek professional help"(28.85%) approach to the least; negative coping style mainly comprise"Praying for the grace of God"(38.04%),"Suppressing their negative emotions"(31.98%), etc. Those experiencing meteorological and earthquake disasters often take positive coping methods (mean average 2.14 and 2.13, respectively); The positive and negative coping levels of those experiencing pests and other natural disasters are both relatively high (mean average 2.37 and 2.17, respectively ). The coping ways of those acting as a role of different types in the flood and drought disasters are different; sex, age, educational levels and so on of residents may be the factors impacting choosing coping methods.The residents'awareness of the"intervention of psychological crisis"is not high (58.00%), in-depth awareness rate of 9.00%. Awareness rate of 21 to 30 years old group is highest, and age, nationality, marital status, educational level and others may be the factors influencing residents'awareness.The post-disaster mental health knowledge and skills residents having received are mainly"How to alleviate their psychological response by their selves"(response rate 46.72%), and services are mainly television broadcasting and other media publicity (response rate 43.22%). The age, nationality, marital status and other residents may be the factors influencing their evaluation of services.The service providers the residents want are mainly professionals (41.21%) and relatives (40.37%), psychological knowledge and skills they want to master are mainly"How to alleviate their psychological response"(48.26%), and they want mental health service supplied mainly in the form of television broadcasts and other media, especially in the form of TV programs and promotional materials (mainly in books and posters) and other channels. The age, ethnicity, marital status and etc of residents may be factors impacting on their selection of service providers. ConclusionDuring January 2007 to March 2009, one of the worst natural disasters influencing the public is earthquake, especially Wenchuan earthquake. The awareness rate of the public knowledge about post-disaster mental health service including the psychological crisis intervention is relatively low. Most of the public reported poor evaluation on the psychological health services ever offered, but the public have strong demand for psychological health services after natural disasters. The results revealed that after the natural disasters, we need to consider factors which may affect body and emotion of the public, in order to provide multiple levels and systemic mental health services.