1. Vulnerable Groups
Mental Health and Psychosocial Services

2. Vulnerable – the state of being
unprotected against harm, injury or
attack

3. Vulnerable Groups
Groups with Special Needs
Children/infants
Older persons
PWDs (physical/mental/substance
abuse/developmental)
Women

4. Vulnerable Groups
First Responders/disaster response
personnel
People with part traumatic experiences
Ethnic & cultural groups
Parents w/ dependent children
Economically disadvantaged groups

5. Vulnerable Groups
Children
Listen to what they say both in words &
their behaviour
Observe what children do as you talk to
them or as they play

6. Vulnerable Groups
Typical responses: fear, anxiety, regressive
behaviour, difficulty sleeping, physical
reactions, difficulty concentrating

7. Vulnerable Groups
Helping a Child
Help by helping the parents
Keep familiar routines
Talk about what happened (as appropriate)
Find opportunities to participate in
decision-making

8. Vulnerable Groups
Seek professional help when the child is experiencing
typical stress reactions longer than 1 month after the
Critical event or any of the following:
Suicidal or homicidal ideation/behaviour
Hopelessness/helplessness
Physical problems
Alcohol or drug abuse
hyperactivity

9. How to know when your
children has recovered?

10. How to know when tour children has
recovered?
Although people deal with trauma in very many
different ways, some signs of eventual recovery
include:
The ability to talk about the tragedy openly with
family and friends;
The ability to effectively manage and cope with
emotions that may be associated with the tragedy;

11. How to know when tour children has
recovered?
The ability to resume usual day-to-day routines;
and
The ability to resume social and academic
activities in an effective manner.

12. Vulnerable Groups
The Elderly
Typical reactions:
Wish to connect with family, past friends
Increased dependences on family, refusing assistance
from authorities
Fear of mortality
Negative view of the future

13. Vulnerable Groups
The Elderly
Typical reactions:
Regression
Use of denial
Immediate fear-anger-frustration
Concentration & communication difficulties
Physiological responses

14. Vulnerable Groups
Helping the Elderly
Ensure safety
Give factual information
Reassure by giving information about normal reactions
Be supportive & build confidence
Identify secure attachments & relationships
Talk about the event

15. Vulnerable Groups
Helping the Elderly
Be aware of cultural backgrounds
Facilities access to aid & support services
Ensure that they are not isolated
Establish routine
Help them to maintain their sense of community &
preserve cohesion

16. Vulnerable Groups
Person with Disabilities
People who have disability are “people first”
Their needs & reactions going to be the same as others.
But, their disabilities/problems associated with their
disability can create special challenges for both the person
& those who work with them.

17. Vulnerable Groups
Person with Disabilities
After a disaster, people with disabilities:
May need assistance in negotiating the “second disaster”
May need some accommodations within shelters
May need assistance in replacing lost prescriptions.

18. Vulnerable Groups
Remember when you seek advice to:
Always link with existing services to their disabilities
Seek advice if these are evident or suspected:
Suicidal ideation
Homicidal ideation
Depression (more than 2 weeks)
Active hallucinations/delusions
Rage : Aggression
Inability to care for self or carry out ADL

19. Vulnerable Groups
Women
Tend to be more vulnerable to psychosocial effects of the
disaster & likely to have more psychosocial problems than
their male counterparts
More prone to depression & anxiety & psychosomatic
signs

20. Vulnerable Groups
Strategies to help
Involve them in community activities
Involve them in ongoing relief activities
Encourage them to form self-help groups to find ways
coping with their feeling & current situations
Extend special care to pregnant & nursing mothers

21. Sources of Stress for
Disaster Workers

22. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
1. Disaster Event stressors
Personal loss/injury
Traumatic stimuli/gruesome
Sights/activities

23. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
2. Occupational Pressures
Time pressure/work overload
Physical/emotional demands
Work environment

24. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
3. Organizational Pressures
Role conflict/ambiguity
Confusion on the chain of command
Organizational conflict

25. Additional Challenges for
helpers

26. Additional Challenges for helpers
Feeling guilty over privileged access to food,
shelter, etc.
Facing moral & ethical dilemmas
Being exposed to anger & lack of gratitude
Being detached from personal support systems
Being frustrated with policies & decisions of
supervisors