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Natural disaster, older adults, and mental health–a dangerous combination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2015

Meaghan L. O'donnell  and
David Forbes
Meaghan L. O'donnell
Affiliation:
Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Email: mod@unimelb.edu.au
David Forbes
Affiliation:
Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Email: mod@unimelb.edu.au
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Extract

Natural disasters by their very nature occur suddenly and have the potential to cause great harm at an individual, family, community, and societal level. They occur frequently, and with the escalation in extreme events related to climate change, the frequency, and severity of natural disasters will only increase (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2014). Globally, a growing number of people are being exposed to natural disaster; however, the vulnerability to exposure is not equally shared. Those who are socially, physically, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally, or otherwise disadvantaged are especially vulnerable to experiencing natural disaster.

Type
Commentary paper of the month
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 9 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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