재난 피해자 사후 지원

Establishing the Public Support System for Disaster Survivors

심리적 충격은 단순하게는 예측하지 못한 사태에 직면한 후 경험하는 급성스트레스 반응(acute stress syndrome)에서부터 장기적으로 심각한 정신적 문제를 일으킬 수도 있는 외상후 스트레스 장애(post traumatic stress disorder) 현상으로 발전하기도 한다. 외상후 스트레스 장애로의 이행을 방지하고 보다 건강한 사회구성원으로 복귀할 수 있도록 하는 피해자 지원 방안이 필요하다. 재난 피해자 지원은 사회적 건강성의 회복과 장기적인 관점에서의 지원, 피해자 변화의 장기적인 추적 연구, 지원과 관리를 위한 표준적 지식 기준을 마련해야 한다. 또한 재난 충격의 결과에 대한 사회적 인식을 확대하고 재난의 관리 및 대응은 협력, 공동노력의 토대를 마련해야 한다. 또한 재난 피해에 취약한 계층에 대한 지원책 마련이 필요하다.

Disaster survivors suffer, in most cases, a great economic loss, heavy physical damages and, moreover, some dreadful mental pains. The psychological shock aroused by disasters especially deteriorate one's social capabilities. So, even when the disastrous state of affairs come to an end, disaster survivors tend to suffer serious conflict with their family members and mistrust in other people in their regional society. In this context, policy plans of emergency management aiming at mitigating psychological impact of disasters. Among those mental impacts of a disaster, there are two sorts that are most noticeable. The comparatively simple one among them is Acute Stress Syndrome occurring as an instant response to the unexpected situation of disaster. But the more complex and long-term enduring trouble in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder causing still more serious psychological problems. A nation-wide public support system should be established for disaster survivors to return to their social life as a wholesome members, preventing them from falling into PTSD victims. Supporting those catastrophe sufferers should not stop at the level of economic assistance or material restoration, but need to progress to measures for recovering socio-cultural health of them. For a successful establishment of these supporting institutions, policy planners as well as pertaining researchers should develop a wide and deep understanding of the behavioral response of those sufferers as an effect of disaster experience. Emergency management and control are such tasks as to be accomplished through a common effort of regional communities and the national government, together with that of social activists. In addition, some extraordinary social concern and policy consideration should be given to the social minorities who are apt to be frequently exposed to social and natural dangers and so who are weak in elasticity of treating disaster impact.