Mental health impact of the catastrophic 2023 earthquake on Turkish youth: psychological distress amidst humanitarian crisis

Abstract

On February 6, 2023, Türkiye was struck by a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8, a natural disaster of enormous destruction. As a result, many citizens succumbed to mortality, suffered immense physical and psychosocial harm, and the properties of the survivors suffered severe damage. Adolescents and the youth sector in particular are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders1. Hence, policymakers and stakeholders need to pay attention to this understudied sector to prevent and manage health care issues associated with the recent earthquakes. Because of their rapid appearance, ferocity, and devastation, earthquakes exert unequivocal stress events2. Previous studies have demonstrated that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently linked to earthquakes, which have a significant psychological influence on individuals and hinder their early return to normal activities while prolonging unpleasant emotions3. Moreover, prior traumatic encounters and childhood abuse have a significant impact on the mental health of adolescent survivors3. Recalling fear, triggering memories, or experiencing panic and anxiety is one of the most notable effects of the possibility and persistence of PTSD. These symptoms have a rapid impact on mental health and, according to studies and personal experience, are associated with the initiation and risk of developing PTSD3. In addition, this disorder comprises mood disorders, such as dysthymia and anxiety, with the diagnosis being connected to the existence of PTSD following the earthquake3. The majority of adolescent survivors’ experience intrusive flashbacks and posttrauma ruminations, also known as event-related ruminations, which result from the shaking of beliefs after excruciating occurrences2. Adolescents may experience varying levels of trauma following the earthquake, with one of the most significant elements influencing the intensity being the loss of family members and the damage of homes, which causes a dramatic change in their lives2,3. Adolescent trauma survivors are thought to focus more on the negative aspects of traumatic cues as a result of automatic ruminations that reduce an individual’s ability to avoid them. The most recent earthquake in Türkiye since 1939 had the largest recorded magnitude, and it damaged an area of around 400 km24. The chronicity of adolescent survivors’ mental health and quality of life are impacted by postearthquake difficulties including eviction, destroyed homes, or injuries. These variables are more likely to be subjected to harsher conditions in the aftermath of the traumatic event3. According to a study, those who have experienced partial or full PTSD symptoms for 2 years may continue to experience them for the following 10 years5. The Turkish government faces a serious task in constructing a suitable plan to aid the afflicted youth alongside heal those affected and develop a prosperous generation. In response to the rising prevalence of adolescent mental health issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) is assisting the Turkish government through its regional concept of operations, working in partnership with the Turkish Ministry of Health to provide mental health services throughout all impacted areas4. It is advised to conduct a structured examination of adolescent psychological distress symptoms. This may be achieved by interviewing teenagers, preferably without their parents present to prevent emotional bias and distress disguise. This mediates a secure clinical setting in which to discuss their traumatic experience to receive appropriate care6. Moreover, following the early emergency comeback, children and caregivers will warrant additional specialized trauma healing interventions that will be crucial in assisting youth in maintaining their well-being while also being impacted by the risk and protective factors that came with the Türkiye earthquake7. Offering extensive training for mental health professionals is highly advised, so that the symptoms of PTSD and other disorders are revealed more rapidly, and hence managed more sufficiently6. Not only should face-to-face therapy be offered, but also eHealth methods should be adopted to expand the range of benefited adolescents throughout all regions of Türkiye6. There is a need to break the stigma surrounding mental health, that acts as a barrier preventing individuals from seeking help. Moreover, community and political engagement and improvement of disaster management goals accountability and identifying gaps are essential steps. Through sustained research identification of predictors may help formulate postdisaster relief and rehabilitation efforts to further reduce the psychological distress in such a humanitarian crisis. Ethical approval Not applicable. Sources of funding The authors have not received any financial support for this manuscript. Author’s contribution O.U.: conceptualization, project administration, writing—review and designing. H.A.: reviewing the first draft and revising. J.W.: reviewing and editing. All authors approved the final manuscript and submission. Conflicts of interest disclosure The authors declare that they have no financial conflict of interest with regard to the content of this report. Research registration unique identifying number (UIN) Abubakar Nazir. Guarantor Abubakar Nazir. Data availability statement Not applicable.