More than 1 in 5 disaster survivors develop a mental health condition, and symptoms may surface as much as a decade later, according to a review published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
The study, led by Michel Dückers, PhD, a professor of behavioral health and social sciences at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, analyzed 71 studies published between 1990 and 2024. The review examined disasters in 23 countries.
Here are five things to know:
- The review found that 22% of people who experience disasters later developed a mental health disorder.
- Mental health conditions most often emerged within the first few months after disaster and again 9 to 18 years later.
- About 30% of survivors experience depression. Other reported conditions included distress (28%), sleep problems (27%), grief (25%), post-traumatic stress (23%), anxiety (21%) and suicidal thoughts or behaviors (21%).
- After adjusting for other risk factors, researchers found comparable mental health effects across natural and man-made disaster types, including earthquakes, storms, terrorist attacks, floods and mass shootings.
- Researchers said gradual improvement over time may mask long-term effects and recommended extended follow-up and counseling to address ongoing or delayed mental health needs.
