Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Some Lessons Learned From Natural Disaster in Iran

• Published in: Health in emergencies and disasters quarterly Vol. 1; no. 2; pp. 105 - 110
• Main Authors: Fardin Alipour, Hamidreza Khankeh, Mohammad Sabzi, Shokoufeh Ahmadi, Isa Malmir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Negah Institute for Scientific Communication 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Disasters; Earthquakes; Iran; Psychosocial rehabilitation
• ISSN: 2345-4210; 2345-4210

Background: Disasters have adverse impacts on different aspects of human life. PsychosocialRehabilitation is one of the fields which is usually overshadowed and ignored by physicalrehabilitation or its importance does not receive proper attention. This research attempts tostudy some lessons learned from Psychosocial Rehabilitation based on disaster experiencesin Iran. Materials and Methods: This study has a conventional qualitative content analysis design.The participants of study were 15 people with direct experience of earthquake and 12 expertsin this field. The study sample was selected by purposeful sampling method and the data werecollected by semi-structured interviews. Results: Lack of a suitable system to deliver Psychosocial Rehabilitation, challenge inestablishing balance between short-term and long-term social and mental needs, lack of mentaland social experts, inefficiency in using social capital and capacities are the most importantlessons learned in this field. Conclusion: Lack of awareness of mental and social problems of affected people after disasteris one of the most important barriers in successful and stable rehabilitation. PsychosocialRehabilitation requires a suitable structure and planning for all stages of disaster management.