Hobfoll Et al (2007) identified five elements of treat disaster victims as promotion of sense of safety, calming, promotion of sense of self efficacy and collective efficacy, promotion of connectedness and promotion of hope. According to the research, disaster and mass violence pushes victims to respond to events that threaten their existence. This affects their psychological abilities including the protective shield that that had developed since childhood. They tend to develop psychological complications such as stress, traumas, phobia, depression, anxiety, and grief among other. In this sense they become unstable and they lose senses of safety, hope and sense of self. Treating these patients would mostly involve promoting or restoring of these life aspects. Promoting sense of safety would d be essential because it would be used to counter fears, phobia and anxiety. It will also help in improving cognitive processes of the victim. Bringing people in a safe place and assuring them of their safety is the first steps of restoring the sense of safety ( Hobfoll et al., 2007) .
Calming of extreme emotions that come with exposure to disaster is an important therapeutic element that would help in treating the psychological symptoms of the victims. These emotions may be extreme and racing; grounding such emotions would be done by breathe retraining, and deep muscle relaxation. Other techniques include use of medications such as anti-adrenergic agents, anti-depressants, and conventional anxiolytics. Promotion of sense of self efficacy and collective efficacy could be done by using treatment means that enhances sense of control over traumatic stressors. When dealing with children and adolescent victims there should be great care to be employed so as not to interfere with their development and psychological growth. Promoting connectedness with other people is an important element. Victims of disasters may have their social life ruined and find it difficult connecting with others because of PTSD ( Quitangon, & Evces, 2015).
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Connectedness can be promoted through enhancing knowledge of specific types of social support. Improving the ability to identify potential sources of support and learning how to utilize the support. Instilling hope would help in strengthening emotionally and assuring them that they will cope with the situation. In a community, the hope rebuilding can be achieved by clearing up the mess and rebuilding, making home visits, and organizing blood drives (Hamblen et al., 2017) .
I am convinced that the elements addressed here are interventions that can be used in treating all individuals affected by disasters. The research was extensive and considered victims of terrorism attacks, mass violence and other disasters. In preparing the report a panel of experts of study and treatment of victims exposed to disaster and mass violence, from various countries and organizations were involved. Therefore, the principles recommended are accurate and comprehensive. These principles can be operationalized in different cultures, places and type of trauma even without major modifications.
References
Hamblen, J. L., Norris, F. H., Symon, K. A., & Bow, T. E. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy for postdisaster distress: A promising transdiagnostic approach to treating disaster survivors. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy , 9 (S1), 130.
Hobfoll, S. E., Watson, P., Bell, C. C., Bryant, R. A., Brymer, M. J., Friedman, M. J., ... & Maguen, S. (2007). Five essential elements of immediate and mid–term mass trauma intervention: Empirical evidence. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes , 70 (4), 283-315.
Quitangon, G., & Evces, M. R. (Eds.). (2015). Vicarious Trauma and Disaster Mental Health: Understanding Risks and Promoting Resilience (Vol. 50). Routledge.
