Module 5 - Populations
with Special Needs
Learning Objectives
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Identify and describe the characteristic
reactions of vulnerable groups affected
by disaster
Describe effective interventions to assist
vulnerable groups
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Populations with Special Needs
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Groups with Special Needs
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Children
Older persons
Persons with disabilities (physical/mental
illness/substance abuse/developmental)
People with past experience with war or
terrorism
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Groups with Special Needs
(cont.)
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Ethnic and cultural groups
Parents with dependent children
Bereaved spouses or partners
Economically disadvantaged groups
Socially disadvantaged groups
First responders/disaster response
personnel
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Groups with Special Needs
(cont.)
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Individuals may overlap between groups
Women & Vulnerability
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role of women as primary caregivers (overlap with
parents, maybe economically disadvantaged)
Women outlive men and thus may be alone and
physically compromised as they age (overlap with
older adults, socially isolated)
Women may have a history of trauma or abuse
(overlap with past trauma experience)
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Emotional Stress in Children
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Listen/Observe/Respond
• Changes in behavior, personality, outlook.
• Talk to the child and observe responses.
• Does the child appear upset or confused?
• Compare the child’s behavior to other children
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of the same age in the same setting.
Does the child play appropriately?
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Children’s Typical Responses
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Fear and anxiety
“Childish” or regressive behavior
Difficulty sleeping
Physical reactions
“Trigger” responses
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
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Reactions Related to Age
Groups
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Birth to 2 years
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Pre-school, 2-6 years
• Irritability, crying, clingy or passive behavior
• Intense fear or insecurity
• Play activities may involve aspects of the
•
event
Re-enactment of the event over and over
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Reactions Related to Age
Groups (cont.)
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School age, 6-10 years
• Guilt
• Feelings of failure
• Anger
• Fantasies of playing rescuer
• Intensely preoccupied with the event
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Reactions Related to Age Group
(cont.)
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Preadolescence to adolescence, 11-18
years
• Responses resemble adult reactions
• Irritability, rejection of rules and aggressive
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behavior
Dangerous, risk-taking behavior
Fearful
Depressed
May contemplate or attempt suicide
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Helping a Child
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Help by helping the parents
Keep familiar routines
Pamper and care
Talk about what happened (as
appropriate)
Find opportunities for children to
participate in decision-making
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When a Specialist is Needed:
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Suicidal or homicidal ideation/behavior
• Younger children may say they wish they had
never been born
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Hopelessness/helplessness
Unable to stop thinking about the event
Physical problems
Alcohol or drug use
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Activity # 16 – Group Discussion
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Helpers need to be prepared for their own
emotional reactions when supporting children in
crisis, and to be aware that their reactions are
normal.
• Brainstorm and list the “normal” reactions that can
helpers may have when working with children
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Many areas of Nebraska have very few mental
health services for children.
• As a group, brainstorm and list all the mental
health services for children available in your
community
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Older Persons
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Especially vulnerable when:
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Having co-occurring medical problems
Having ambulation difficulties
Living alone
Lacking help and other resources
Having to face the shock of losing all that they had
attained in life
• Home
• Family
• Security
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Older People’s Typical
Reactions
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Increased memories of past
Wish to connect with past friends
Increased dependence on family,
refusing assistance from authorities
Fear of mortality
Negative view of the future
Regression
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Older People’s Typical
Reactions
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Feeling of multiple losses
Disoriented as routine is interrupted
Use of denial as a normal defensive
reaction
Immediate fear response, followed by
anger and frustration
Concentration and communication
difficulties
Physiological responses
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Helping Older People
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Ensure safety
Give factual information
Reassure by providing information about
normal reactions
Be supportive and build confidence
Identify secure attachments and relationships
Talk about the event
Be aware of cultural backgrounds
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Helping Older People (cont.)
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Facilitate access to aid and support services
Ensure that they are not isolated
Establish Routine
Provide opportunities for continuity, culture
and history
Help them to maintain their sense of
community and preserve cohesion
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Persons with Disabilities
(Physical/Mental Illness/Substance
Abuse/Developmental)
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May need assistance in negotiating the
“second disaster”, applying for
assistance from aid agencies
May need some accommodations within
shelters
May need assistance in replacing lost
prescriptions
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Persons with Disabilities
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Always link with existing services for their
disabilities
Seek advice if these are evident or suspected:
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Suicidal ideation
Homicidal ideation
Depression lasts longer than two weeks
Active hallucinations or delusions
Rage
Aggression
Inability to care for self or carry out activities of daily
living
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Previous Experience with
War/Trauma/Disaster
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Previous, and especially repeated,
exposure to death and injury may
increase a person’s risk of developing
psychological problems after a disaster.
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