GNS Science

The social dimension

David JohnstonJoint Centre for Disaster Research, GNS Science – Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

GNS Science

Following the social and psychosocial impacts

Measuring the recovery

• The Canterbury Wellbeing Index

• The CERA Wellbeing Survey• Other research and

monitoring efforts

CERA Wellbeing Survey

• Socio-demographic questions, including full address • Quality of Life Survey (overall Quality of Life, stress,

sense of community); • Questions regarding impacts of the earthquakes

(both negative and positive); communications and (confidence in) decision-making around the earthquakes; and about respondents’ knowledge of psychosocial services provided as part of the recovery operation.

Quality of life

Stressors: moderate or major negative impact

Most prevalent negative impacts

Sept 2012 April 2013 Sept 2013 Sept 2015

Dealing with EQC/insurance issues in relation to personal property and house

37 26 23 13

Making decisions about house damage, repairs and relocation

29 22 21 11

Being in a damaged environment and/or surrounded by construction work

30 21 20 20

Positive impacts

IssueSept 2012

April 2013

Sept 2015

Renewed appreciation of life 45 33 27

Spending more time together as a family 36 27 22

Pride in ability to cope under difficult circumstances 41 26 22

Tangible signs of progress - - 22

Access to new and repaired recreational, cultural and leisure time facilities

- 16 19

Improved quality of house after the repair/rebuild - - 11

Increased opportunities for individual creative expression 9 9 8

Income related benefits 7 8 8

• The People in Disasters Conference was in Christchurch on 24-26 February 2016

• The conference was about the health, in its broadest sense, of people in disasters, including both the ill-health suffered, and the determinants of that ill-health.

• There has been a failure to adequately learn from the lessons of past events to inform future practice.

• Intergenerational impacts focusing on the most vulnerable (young children, elderly, homeless)

• Cumulative mental health impact are not well understood where those who are symptom free develop delayed ‘not coping’ symptoms

• http://www.peopleindisasters.org.nz/