The Incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Amongst Cyclone Survivors in a Rural Hamlet of West Bengal

AIMS: Too assess the incidence of PTSD among the survivors of natural disaster Yash cyclone. METHODS: Data were collected from adolescent population between the ages of 10 and 15 years who resided in the sunderban region of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal Research design adopted for the present study was descriptive, explorative of non experimental study. Setting of the study was the relief camp operated for victims of climate change and natural disasters ie cyclone yash 2021. Sampling technique adopted for the present study was simple random sampling. Instruments used - PCL 5 questionnaires socio demographic pro forma. The data were collected and analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Analysis shows that there is statistical correlation between post traumatic stress disorder and subjects exposed to climate change events such as cyclone Yash. Initial research suggests that a PCL-5 cut-off score between 31 and 33 is indicative of probable PTSD across samples. In our study the mean pcl 5 value from the data assessment is 70.67 with standard deviation of 4.61. The mean age of the group was 13 years and the family income was Rs 50,804 . The mean education level of the subjects is class 7. Further assessment by linear regression analyses shows that female subjects are more prone to post traumatic stress disorder and higher income groups are more susceptible to ptsd. As shown by higher values as per the pcl 5 scale. It is evident that events linked to climate change and natural disasters such as cyclone Yash contribute to the development of PTSD as the values are above the cut of score of 33 and are increased across all 20 parameters of the PTSD Scale PCL-5. CONCLUSION: Our study clearly demonstrates the impact of climate change and natural disasters on the mental health status of people living in disaster prone areas especially the child and adolescent population. Our study group was child and adolescent population between 10 and 15 years. The study was done in very difficult settings as our relief team with volunteers and psychologists had to travel to gosaba and sunderban region of West Bengal which had been devastated by cyclone Yash . The psychologist and volunteers had to collect data in disasters affected zone , yet they collected data which gave a clear cut findings and a very clear statement on climate change and mental health. The Royal College of Psychiatry was an observer in the recent international Congress on Climate change and had expressed concern over the impact of climate change on mental health. Our study shows the profound impact natural disasters have on mental health similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Our study vindicates the position of the Royal College of Psychiatry on climate change and natural disasters. The values are very high and consistent in most subjects across all twenty domains. Our study group was child and adolescent, the most vulnerable group amongst the affected population. It is our opinion that Mental health support should be provided for all victims of climate change and natural disasters and government should invest in resources for protection of vulnerable communities from the ravages of natural disasters.