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Sedaví Flood: Psychological Aftermath

The devastating floods in Sedaví, Spain, leave a trail of psychological trauma amongst survivors, highlighting the need for effective mental health support.

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Spain

HealthMental HealthTraumaDisasterFloodPtsd

Colegio Oficial De Psicólogos De ValenciaAyuntamiento De SedavíSepadem (Sociedad Española De Psicología Aplicada De DesastresUrgencias Y Emergencias)Hospital General Universitario De Valencia

ElisaAmparo Gascó BlanchFran MendozaSeraya LorenzoMariano Navarro SererMateo CampilloAnaAinhoaJavier Sánchez Rocafull

How is the community responding to the mental health crisis?: The psychological impact on the community of Sedaví is significant, with hundreds experiencing PTSD symptoms. Teams of psychologists are working tirelessly to provide support and address the mental health crisis.
What is the expected impact once the clean-up process concludes?: The immediate aftermath of the disaster is characterized by high adrenaline levels, which masks the full extent of psychological trauma. However, once the clean-up is complete and adrenaline levels decrease, the full impact of the trauma is expected to emerge.
What are the main psychological symptoms experienced by flood victims in Sedaví?: Elisa, a 60-year-old woman from Sedaví, Spain, is experiencing recurring nightmares of drowning victims after the recent devastating floods. She is exhibiting symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What criticisms are raised about the official response to the mental health needs of the victims?: Experts criticize the delayed response and insufficient mobilization of mental health resources in the wake of the disaster. They highlight the need for improved emergency response planning and coordination to effectively address the psychological needs of victims.
How does the immediate activity of cleaning up the damage affect the mental health of the victims?: Many residents are coping with trauma through intense activity like cleaning up the flood damage. However, psychologists warn that this is delaying the processing of trauma and could lead to more severe issues once the immediate crisis subsides.

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