Mental health and social networks after disaster

RA Bryant; HC Gallagher; L Gibbs; P Pattison; C MacDougall; L Harms; K Block; E Baker; V Sinnott; G Ireton; J Richardson; D Forbes; D Lusher

Journal article

Mental health and social networks after disaster

RA Bryant, HC Gallagher, L Gibbs, P Pattison, C MacDougall, L Harms, K Block, E Baker, V Sinnott, G Ireton, J Richardson, D Forbes, D Lusher

American Journal of Psychiatry | AMER PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING, INC | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15111403

Abstract

Objective: Although disasters are a major cause of mental health problems and typically affect large numbers of people and communities, little is known about how social structures affect mental health after a disaster. The authors assessed the extent to which mental health outcomes after disaster are associated with social network structures. Method: In a community-based cohort study of survivors of a major bushfire disaster, participants (N=558) were assessed for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and probable depression. Social networks were assessed by asking participants to nominate people with whom they felt personally close. These nominations were used to construct a social ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Colin Gallagher Author

Lisa Gibbs Author

Pip Pattison Author

Louise Harms Author

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Grants

Awarded by American Red Cross

Funding Acknowledgements

Supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (LP100200164), with additional support from the Australian Red Cross, Australian Rotary Health, the Victorian Department of Health, Centrelink, Phoenix Australia-Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, and these Primary Care Partnerships: Central West Gippsland, Bendigo Loddon, North East, Outer East, Lower Hume, and Central Hume.