Author(s): Anna Castaneda Tabet
Objective: Natural disasters can be devastating to families especially for children. Many families are displaced from their homes and some are even separated from their children. Consequently, many children feel separation anxiety and may develop other diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health issues. Long-tern effects may trigger substance abuse and dependence anxiety, fears and depression are not treated.
Methods: Simple Descriptive Study, research articles were derived from multiple internet search engines.
Results: Nearly 494,000 people in the United States that were the ages of 12 years old and older reported using heroin in the past year and seems to be increasing with the years 2015. In 2017, over 15,000 people died from heroin overdose in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019).
Consequences: Children must be treated for their separation anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder if diagnosed with these mental health problems. If they are not treated their mental health may decline and lower their quality of life. If not treated these children may develop substance abuse problems in the future.
Conclusion: Natural disasters are devastating to children and families, family displacement is detrimental to children resulting in many children developing mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress order and substance abuse in the future. Treatment and management for children who have been through natural disasters are essential to ameliorate anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse and dependence thus increasing their health outcomes and increasing their quality of life.
