Psychological crisis intervention for emergency rescue workers during major nuclear power plant accident / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

The nuclear accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima had great impacts on the mental health of emergency rescue workers, who experienced a series of psychological problems shared by the accident victims. This paper analyzes the psychological symptoms suffered by emergency rescue workers in Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents, as well as the psychological crisis interventions for rescue personnel involved in major natural disasters and pandemics. Based on the special situations faced by emergency rescue workers in nuclear accidents, we propose psychological crisis interventions for rescue personnel during major nuclear accidents. These interventions include mental health assessment and training before accident, psychological assistance, self-adjustment, and crisis intervention during accident, and long-term psychological assistance after accident. The psychological impacts on emergency rescue workers can be reduced by effective psychological interventions.