Children’s Mental Health Becomes a Growing Concern after Exposure to Destructive Hurricanes

Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. fathom / ˈfæð əm / (v) – to understand
    Example:

    Most children still cannot fathom the issues of today’s society.


  2. come to terms with (something) / kʌm tu tɜrms wɪθ / (idiom) – to accept a reality or situation
    Example:

    The hurricane victims have come to terms with the tragedy.


  3. aftermath / ˈæf tərˌmæθ / (n) – a situation or consequence that comes after a certain event
    Example:

    Large amounts of trash cluttered the shoreline in the aftermath of the storm.


  4. have the means / hæv ðə mins / (idiom) – to have the resources needed for an activity
    Example:

    The patient was cured because her parents had the means to pay for her treatment.


  5. in the company of / ɪn ðə ˈkʌm pə ni ʌv / (idiom) – to be surrounded by other people
    Example:

    He was lucky to be in the company of medical experts during the accident.


Article

Read the text below.

Children exposed to disastrous hurricanes are likely to suffer long-term mental health effects, according to experts.


In Puerto Rico, children’s mental health has become a growing concern for the government after Hurricane Maria struck the country. Jesús Colón Berlingeri, mayor of Puerto Rican municipality Orocovis, said that many of the island’s children still could not fathom the hurricane’s impact. They have yet to come to terms with the experiences they went through, such as watching their houses fall apart and seeing their loved ones become ill or pass away.


Brain experts claim that witnessing destruction can harm the brain. They added that the effect is more severe if the destruction is experienced by the victim’s family members.


Children in the US also experienced similar issues after Hurricane Katrina struck. Irwin Redlener, head of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and president of the Children’s Health Fund, conducted a study on Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. Findings revealed that one-third of child victims reported at least one mental health concern after the storm. Furthermore, these children had a higher tendency to suffer from emotional issues than those who were unaffected by the disaster. However, only less than 50% of parents have the means to seek professional help.


To address this concern, a number of institutions have carried out some initiatives in Puerto Rico.


For instance, students and staff from the Ponce Health Science University in Puerto Rico visited shelters and affected communities to extend their help. International NGO Save the Children also set up a temporary child care facility, where around 150 children have already enrolled. The facility provides children a chance to be in the company of teachers, social workers, and other students. Various programs allow them to share their experiences and have a better understanding of what they went through.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Why do you think children are more vulnerable to long-term mental health effects of disasters?
• If given the opportunity, how would you help child victims of hurricanes deal with the aftermath of the disaster?

Discussion B

• How does your community train its members on disaster preparedness?
• What steps does your government take to help citizens recover from natural disasters?