Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Mental Health Problems among the Survivors in the Flash Floods and Landslide in Southern Thailand

Authors

  • Jiraporn SONPAVEERAWONG School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
  • Wanida LIMMUN School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
  • Nidarat CHUWICHIAN School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2019.4017

Keywords:

Mental health, PTSD, depression, suicide, floods, Thailand

Abstract

Significant evidence has shown that southern Thailand is prone to the highest risk of repeated flooding. However, psychological distress and mental health problems caused by the flash floods and landslides have been under-researched among Thai survivors. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore characteristics and factors associated with the prevalence of psychological distress, probable post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), probable depression, suicide risk, and alcohol problems 4 to 6 months after the flooding. The research examined 326 survivors from households in flooded communities in Nakhon Si Thammarat province during 2011. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and a binary logistic regression model were applied to the data representing demographics, household damage, perceived mental health impact, social support and mental health problems. The results showed that the prevalence rate of probable PTSD, probable depression, psychological distress, suicide risk, and alcohol problems were 44.48, 31.29, 29.45, 17.18 and 4.60 %, respectively. Risk factors that variously affected those mental health problems were age, gender, prior physical condition, perception of mental health impacts, skin infection, and injury incurred during the flood. On the other hand, a significant protective factor was the degree of social support. Results suggest that rapid actions should be taken immediately after flooding, especially management with the risk survivor group and promotion of social support to minimize the mental health impacts associated with the flooding.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Jiraporn SONPAVEERAWONG, School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161

School of Nursing

References

Z Zhang, W Wang, Z Shi, L Wang and J Zhang. Mental health problems among the survivors in the hard-hit areas of the Yushu earthquake. PLoS One 2012; 7, e46449.

P Boonyamalik, S Suksawang and S Swangwongsin. A one-year cohort study in mental health problems of the flooding victims in Uttaradit, 2005. J. Psychiat. Assoc. Thai 2012; 57, 165-74.

NK Channaveerachari, A Raj, S Joshi, P Paramita, R Somanathan, D Chandran, S Kasi, NR Bangalore and SB Math. Psychiatric and medical disorders in the after math of the Uttarakhand disaster: Assessment, approach, and future challenges. Indian J. Psychol. Med. 2015; 37, 138-43.

A Fernandez, J Black, M Jones, L Wilson, L Salvador-Carulla, T Astell-Burt and D Black. Flooding and mental health: A systematic mapping review. PLoS One 2015; 10, 1-20.

K Azuma, K Ikeda, N Kagi, U Yanagi, K Hasegawa and H Osawa. Effects of water-damaged homes after flooding: Health status of the residents and the environmental risk factors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014; 24, 158-75.

W Dai, J Wang, AC Kaminga, L Chen, H Tan, Z Lai, J Deng and A Liu. Predictors of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder after the Dongting lake flood in China: A 13-14 year follow-up study. BMC Psychiat. 2016; 16, 382.

S Assanangkornchai, SN Tangboonngam and JG Edwards. The flooding of Hat Yai: Predictors of adverse emotional responses to a natural disaster. Stress Health 2004; 20, 81-9.

G Blöschl, L Gaál, J Hall, A Kiss, J Komma, T Nester, J Parajka, RAP Perdigão, L Plavcová, M Rogger, JL Salinas and A Viglione. Increasing river floods: Fiction or reality? Wires Water 2015; 2, 329-44.

AC Minervino and EC Duarte. Danos materiais causados à Saúde Pública e à sociedade decorrentes de inundações e enxurradas no Brasil, 2010-2014: Dados originados dos sistemas de informação global e nacional. Ciencia Saude Colet. 2016; 21, 685-94.

L Kaizhong, W Shaohong, D Erfu and X Zhongchun. Flood loss analysis and quantitative risk assessment in China. Nat. Hazards 2012; 63, 737-60.

S Paranjothy, J Gallacher, R Amlot, GJ Rubin, L Page, T Baxter, J Wight, D Kirrage, RM Naught and SR Palmer. Psychosocial impact of the summer 2007 floods in England. BMC Public Health 2011; 11, 145-52.

S Chakrabhand, B Panyayong and P Sirivech. Mental health and psychosocial support after the tsunami in Thailand. Int. Rev. Psychiat. 2006; 18: 599-605.

S, Assanangkornchai, SN Tangboonngam, N Sam-angsri and JG Edwards. A Thai community’s anniversary reaction to a major catastrophe. Stress Health 2007; 23, 43-50.

P Udomratn. Mental health and the psychosocial consequences of natural disasters in Asia. Int. Rev. Psychiat. 2008; 20, 441-4.

X Li, X Huang, H Tan, A Liu, J Zhou and T Yang. A study on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder in flood victim parents and children in Hunan, China. Aust. New Zealand J. Psychiat. 2010; 44, 543-50.

B Bei, C Bryant, KM Gilson, J Koh, P Gibson, A Komiti, H Jackson and F Judd. A prospective study of the impact of floods on the mental and physical health of older adults. Aging Ment. Health 2013; 17, 992-1002.

M Ahern, RS Kovats, P Wilkinson, R Few and F Matthies. Global health impacts of floods: Epidemiologic evidence. Epidemiol. Rev. 2005; 27, 36-46.

M Leeies, J Pagura, J Sareen and JM Bolton. The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Depress. Anxiety 2010; 27, 731-6.

LR Turner, K Alderman, C Huang and S Tong. Impact of the 2011 Queensland floods on the use of tobacco, alcohol and medication. Aust. New Zealand J. Public Health 2013; 37, 396.

D Lowe, KL Ebi and B Forsberg. Factors increasing vulnerability to health effects before, during and after floods. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013; 10, 7015-67.

JE Lamond, RD Joseph and DG Proverbs. An exploration of factors affecting the long term psychological impact and deterioration of mental health in flooded households. Environ. Res. 2015; 140, 325-34.

S Wichitnak, S Sintuprasit, P Saralook and J Padungyat. Risk factors causing persistence of stress after flood disaster stress in Ang-Thong Province. J. Health Syst. Res. 2007; 1, 181-7.

C Tanavud, C Yongchalermchai and A Bennui. An assessment of floods risks in Southern Thailand. J. Rem. Sen. GIS Assoc. Thai 2004; 5, 10-21.

S Khoaphuthai. Communicable Disease in Flooding Areas. Nonthaburi: Health Information System Development Office (HISO). Available at: http://www.hiso.or.th/hiso/tonkit/tonkits_13.php, accessed December 2016.

P Phutmongkhon, S Yongsatisak, A Khampeera, C Yongchalermchai, N Jungcharoentham and R Tongyoi. Application of remote sensing technology and geographic information system to allocate the flood hazard areas in the upper eastern area of southern Thailand. J. Rem. Sen. GIS Assoc. Thai 2005; 6, 1-10.

V Mason, H Andrews and D Upton. The psychological impact of exposure to floods. Psychol. Health Med. 2010; 15, 61-73.

X Zhou, L Kang, X Sun, H Song, W Mao, X Huang, Y Zhang and J Li. Prevalence and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among adult survivors six months after the Wenchuan earthquake. Compr. Psychiat. 2013; 54, 493-9.

J Sonpaveerawong and N Chuwichian. Health impact, perceptions, adaptations and social support among people in flash floods and mudslide in Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Songklanagarind Med. J. 2015; 33, 109-19.

K Penglong and D Lalitanantpong. Mental health and post-traumatic stress symptoms related to combat in soldiers at Phramongkutklao Hospital. Chulalongkorn Med. J. 2016; 60, 329-53.

S Telles, N Singh and M Joshi. Risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the floods in Bihar, India. Indian J. Med. Sci. 2009; 63, 330-4.

F Griensven, ML Chakkraband, W Thienkrua , W Pengjuntr, BC Lopes, P Tantipiwatanaskul, PA Mock, S Ekassawin, A Varangrat, C Gotway, M Sabin and JW Tappero. Mental health problems among adults in tsunami-affected areas in southern Thailand. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 2006; 296, 537-48.

K Alderman, JR Turner and S Tong. Assessment of the health impacts of the 2011 summer floods in Brisbane. Disast. Med. Public Health Prep. 2013; 7, 380-6.

M Srisurapanont, P Kittiratanapaiboon, S Likhitsathian, T Kongsuk, S Suttajit and B Junsirimongkol. Patterns of alcohol dependence in Thai drinkers: A differential item functioning analysis of gender and age bias. Addict. Behav. 2012; 37, 173-8.

Pollack, B Weiss and LT Trung. Mental health, life functioning and risk factors among people exposed to frequent natural disasters and chronic poverty in Vietnam. BJPsych Open 2016; 2, 221-32.

SR Lowe, L Sampson, MN Young and S Galea. Alcohol and nonmedical prescription drug use to cope with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: An analysis of hurricane Sandy survivors. Subst. Use Misuse 2017; 52, 1348-56.

S Feng, H Tan, A Benjamin, S Wen, A Liu, J Zhou, S Li, T Yang, Y Zhang, X Li and G Li. Social support and posttraumatic stress disorder among flood victims in Hunan, China. Ann. Epidemiol. 2007; 17, 827-33.

Downloads

Published

2017-11-02

How to Cite

SONPAVEERAWONG, J., LIMMUN, W., & CHUWICHIAN, N. (2017). Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Mental Health Problems among the Survivors in the Flash Floods and Landslide in Southern Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology (WJST), 16(4), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2019.4017

Issue

Section

Research Article