Mental Health Interventions Provided by Volunteer Psychiatrists after the Sewol Ferry Disaster: April 16–November 30, 2014

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the experience of volunteer psychiatrists who provided mental health interventions to adolescents and teachers of Danwon High School from April 16, 2014, to November 30, 2014. METHODS: Data for this study were collected from 72 volunteer psychiatrists about their intervention experiences for 212 adolescents and 32 teachers during the eight months following the disaster. Developmental survey themes were identified, and coding was used to analyze the data. In addition, qualitative data analysis was performed using ATLAS.ti (version 8.2, 2018, ATLAS.ti GmbH). RESULTS: A volunteer prepared with appropriate mental health interventions may facilitate the emergency response to a disaster. Intervention services included psychological first aid, psychoeducation, screening, anxiety reduction techniques, and group therapy. CONCLUSION: In the acute aftermath of the Sewol Ferry disaster of April 16, 2014, volunteer psychiatrists were able to provide mental health interventions in a disaster response setting. The outcomes from this study have important policy and mental health system implications for volunteer psychiatrists. The results of this study constitute the basis of a better understanding of the essential mechanisms of crisis interventions after a disaster.

Psychiatric Symptoms in Teachers from Danwon High School after Exposure to the Sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to describe the psychiatric symptoms in the teachers from Danwon High School who were exposed to the sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol. METHODS: Data were collected from 32 teachers who underwent psychiatric interventions by 16 volunteer psychiatrists for 3 months after the sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol. RESULTS: The most commonly diagnosed clinical diagnosis in the teachers were normal reaction, acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder. Psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, depressed mood and sleep disturbances were also observed. CONCLUSION: In the acute aftermath of the Sewol Ferry sinking on April 16, 2014, psychiatrists volunteered to provide professional psychiatric interventions to Danwon High School teachers. These results suggest the importance of crisis intervention focused on the teachers who are exposed to disasters. The implications for future research and interventions are discussed.

Behavioral health in disaster

The importance of behavioral health after disaster must not overlooked when responding to an event. After disaster, victims experience various difficulties, which responders must keep in mind. They may frighten and confused to cooperate properly with assistance. Persistent distorted blame of self or others for the cause and result of the event is common while different degrees. Behavioral health, which major role is to relieve peoples suffering, also could help cooperation of rescues and accelerate fast recovery after the trauma. Distress of disaster victim could be presented with somatic complaints. Sudden increase of nonspecific physical complaint could be result of somatization of mental stress, which is often observed in disaster victims. After 'Sewol ship sunk' there were lots of need for behavioral health. We now know that how disastrous it could be and how desperate it would be while considering issues of peoples in need for psychological support after disaster. Not to end up in this hopeless situation, it is time to think about how to establish persistent framework to help disaster victims hidden overwhelming sufferings.

Disaster Psychiatry after Motor Vehicle Accident

Death from motor vehicle accident is one of the most common causes of deaths in Korea, with 17.2 person per 100,000 population dying from motor vehicle accidents in 2004. Neuropsychiatric sequelae after motor vehicle accidents are very common and disturbing the quality of life. They include post-traumatic stress disorder, post-concussional disorder, organic personality disorder, depression, organic schizophrenia like disorder, malingering, factitious disorder, etc. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are often neglected by health care providers, although they tend to last for a long period as complex problems. They also may complicate the doctorpatient relationship. Therefore, early detection and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms are important for successful management of the patients. This article includes a brief summary of several neuropsychiatric states after motor vehicle accidents, especially post-traumatic stress disorder and a brief recommendation on legal reports for disability evaluation of mental and behavioral disorders after motor vehicle accidents.