New study identifies those most at risk of mental health problems following exposure to earthquake

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 08:30 in Psychology & Sociology

(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the most difficult tasks for those trying to address the aftermath of a natural disaster, such as the recent Japanese tsunami and earthquake, is how to target their attempts to help the most distressed and needy; both in the short and in the longer term. A study published by Trinity College researchers in this month’s issue of the flagship journal Health Psychology sheds some light on how this could be done and thus what the future may hold for the health of those affected by recent events in Japan. The study examined the health of Taiwanese people one year after the ‘Chi-Chi’ earthquake that struck the island of Taiwan on September 21st, 1999. Registering 7.3 on the Richter scale, the quake caused the deaths of over 2,400 people and collapsed over 100,000 homes.

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